Rugby sevens: Third title looms for NZ

Lote Raikabula of New Zealand runs with the ball against Argentina in the Cup quarterfinal. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand have completed an exhausting schedule with a fourth successive win at the International Rugby Board's latest world sevens circuit tournament in the United States.

They ended today at Las Vegas in emphatic style, too, dismantling Argentina 47-7 in the quarterfinals with their best performance of the tournament.

The Gordon Tietjens-coached side next meet Fiji in the semifinals tomorrow morning (NZT) as they look to complete a hat-trick of tournament titles on this season's circuit following earlier wins at Wellington and George, South Africa.

The other semifinal will feature England against South Africa.

Fiji survived a bruising quarterfinal against Samoa 17-12 while England advanced to the last four 28-14 over Kenya and South Africa eliminated Australia 19-14.

Argentina, who had pushed England to 14-17 in pool play, were no match for the New Zealanders, who scored sevens tries to one, with Argentina's lone five-pointer opening the scoring in the second minute of the match.

New Zealand assumed control after that, leading 19-7 at halftime before over running the south Americans after the break.

New Zealand advanced undefeated through pool play, with wins over Wales 26-5, Kenya 25-10 and Uruguay 40-0.

New Zealand results:-

Quarterfinal: New Zealand 47 (Declan O'Donnell 2, Lote Raikabula, Tim Mikkelson, Tomasi Cama, Frank Halai, Toby Arnold tries; Cama 6 con) Argentina 7 (Javier Ortega Desio try; Joaquin Todeschini con). Halftime: 19-7.

Pool play

New Zealand 40 (Arnold 2, Solomon King, Bryce Heem, Halai, Raikabula tries; Buxton Popoalii 5 con) Uruguay 0. Halftime: 14-0.

New Zealand 25 (Cama, King, Arnold, Mikkelson, Halai tries) Kenya 10 (Collins Injera 2 tries). Halftime: 10-5.

New Zealand 26 (O'Donnell, Popoalii, David Raikuna, Scott Curry tries; Popoalii 3 con) Wales 5 (Ifan Evans try). Halftime: 12-5.

- NZPA