Kiwis cut loose in sevens

New Zealand confirmed their status as the best in the abbreviated game by winning the Hong Kong Sevens yesterday. In a quality final, the All Blacks produced an all-round game to beat the seven-times champions, Fiji, 35-17.

New Zealand, who beat Western Samoa in the semi-final, have not only rediscovered winning ways in sevens, but also a new talent in the powerfully built teenager Jonah Lomu. He caused chaos in the Fiji ranks every time he had the ball, his bullocking runs requiring several defenders to bring him to a halt.

Lomu headed the try scorers in the final with two to complement those of the captain, Eric Rush, the wing Peter Woods and the centre Adrian Cashmore, who also kicked five conversions.

Fiji had looked favourites for the title after demolishing Australia with a 35-5 victory in the second of the semi-finals, Waisale Serevi scoring three tries. Australia, in turn, had looked more than plausible in dismissing England with a 28-0 victory in the last of the quarter-finals.

England's lack of pace was particularly noticeable in their forward trio.