Rugby sevens: Unbeaten NZ face quarterfinal against Argentina

New Zealand's Tim Mikkelson. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand sauntered through pool play at the Australian leg of the IRB sevens world series at the Adelaide Oval today racking up cricket scores at will to advance to the Cup quarterfinals.

The series leaders are now three games away from addressing an anomaly that has seen them fail to win in Adelaide since the tournament was added to the calendar in 2006-07.

By comfortably beating Wales, the Cook Islands and Kenya they topped pool A and have drawn pool B runners-up Argentina in the sudden death phase of the elite competition tomorrow.

They are joined in the quarters by powerhouses England - who trail New Zealand in the series standings by just five points with three tournaments remaining - defending overall and Adelaide champions Samoa, Fiji, South Africa, Australia and the Welsh.

New Zealand's best finish on Australian soil was a defeat in the Cup final to South Africa in 2007-08; last season they won the second-tier plate final after being knocked out by Samoa in the quarters.

There were no hiccups today as Wales were swept aside 36-10; the Cook Islands 40-7 and Kenya 34-14 as coach Gordon Tietjens rotated his injury-free squad.

New Zealand notched a tournament high 18 tries and conceded just five for a positive points differential of 79.

Illustrating New Zealand's generally tight defensive alignment Wales scored their two tries when New Zealand captain DJ Forbes was in the sin bin and the Cook Island's only managed a consolation five-pointer after the final hooter.

Kenya, now condemned to the plate division, provided the sternest challenge and crossed twice including the opener after effective counter rucking.

Toby Arnold ended the day with four tries - including a hattrick against the Cook Islands - while Tomasi Cama's jink over against Kenya was significant - it carried the playmaker past Amasio Valence's previous points haul for New Zealand of 1124.

Samoa were also impressive in topping pool D although they did let a 21-0 lead slip against South Africa before prevailing 26-17 in the match to sort out the top two.

England were perilously close to meeting New Zealand in the quarters but clinched a narrow 21-19 victory over Argentina in the pool B finale thanks to a late try to Nick Royle and conversion by Ben Gollings.

The English face Wales while pool C winners Fiji are drawn against South Africa; Australia face a tough assignment against the Samoans.

New Zealand 36 (Tim Mikkelson 2, Declan O'Donnell, Bryce Heem, Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama tries; Cama 3 con)Wales 10 (Alex Cuthbert, Kristian Phillips tries).

- NZPA