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KEY POINTS:
The success of New Zealand's Sevens rugby year will be decided at two major tournaments in Asia next month.
Gordon Tietjens' injury-ravaged team stumbled in the quarter-finals of the International Rugby Board series in San Diego yesterday, losing 19-7.
While Argentina celebrated their first title for five years after beating England 19-14 in the final, New Zealand are without a tournament win at the halfway stage of the eight-leg circuit.
The next tournament in Hong Kong in late March should determine their fate as it carries double points, something they will need to exploit as they sit eight points behind co-leaders England and South Africa. Argentina climbed to fourth with 48 points.
Before Hong Kong is the World Cup in Dubai from March 5-7 and Tietjens is now in a mad scramble to field a fit side following more injury blowouts.
New Zealand went into the tournament without key players DJ Forbes, Tomasi Cama and Edwin Cocker and the team were weakened further during pool play.
Tim Mikkelson was ruled out of the tournament with a serious shoulder injury while Umaga Marshall, Chad Tuoro and Save Tokula were all carrying painful niggles.
"She's going to be tough but don't worry, we'll be giving it everything we possibly can to be competitive at Dubai," Tietjens said. "We're still very much in the world series race, we just have to go well in Hong Kong."
New Zealand bounced back yesterday to beat Fiji 24-12 in the plate semifinal and Kenya 27-7 in the final, avenging Sunday's shock pool loss to the Africans.
Also of some solace to New Zealand was the improved form of North Harbour flier Viliame Waqaseduadua, who finished with eight tries and should have done enough to book a ticket to Dubai.
Their Cup hopes ended when South African Vuyo Zangqa dashed over late after New Zealand had closed to 12-7 with a try by Waqaseduadua on the stroke of halftime.
The Zangqa try was set up by Ryno Benjamin, who appeared lucky to stay on the field following an apparent headbutt to New Zealand forward Tu Umaga Marshall moments earlier.
"It was always going to be a tough match against a fully-fit South African team," Tietjens said.
- NZPA
