The All Black 7s won the men’s Oceania Super Sevens on the final day of the competition at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe.
Though losing the final match of the tournament to Fiji 12-5, the New Zealand men’s team won their first five matches and clinched the title earlier in the day when Roderick Solo scored the winning try against Australian Selection in the 13th minute of their 17-12 victory.
Akuila Rokolisoa finished the tournament as the Kiwi’s leading scorer with 25 points and three tries (equal Leroy Carter). New Zealand shared the ball around with 13 players crossing the line over the weekend, including seven individual try scorers in their 54-12 win against Tonga.
While the Kiwis shared the ball around, Australia’s points came through James Turner who led the competition with nine tries, four more than Fiji’s Pilipo Bukayaro. Australia’s Dietrich Roache and Stu Dunbar also finished with 20+ points, with the majority coming from the boot.
Coming off their World Series victory in London, the Australian team won four matches, including two wins against the 2021 Olympic gold medallists Fiji. After a 10-point win against the Fijians in the opening match, the Aussies backed up with a two-point victory the following day after Roache successfully converted Matt Gonzalez’s try with one minute remaining.
After struggling in their first four matches, Fiji returned to form on the final day dominating Tonga 42-7, as Bukayaro and Iowane Teba combined for 30 points, while Tevita Daugunu and Aminiasi Tuimaba scored second-half tries to defeat the hosts, 12-5.
With only one week’s preparation and last-minute call-ups, Tonga finished the weekend winless but impressed against Fiji in their second match, losing 24-12. The Tongans managed to score points in four games, with John Ika scoring three of the team’s six tries.
With the Oceania Super Sevens serving as the final preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next month, coaches used the opportunity to evaluate younger and inexperienced players before selecting their final squads.
“Really excited about the younger players getting to play for the first time,” said All Blacks 7s coach Clark Laidlaw. We’ve got to pick 13 tonight and two travelling reserves, so maybe we’ve got a long night ahead of us, which is what I want. I thought all the players really stuck their hand up.”
Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Tonga will be joined by Samoa in the men’s tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games which starts on July 29 in Birmingham, England.
Day 1
New Zealand 38 def. Tonga 0
Australia 29 def. Fiji 19
Fiji 24 def. Tonga 12
New Zealand 35 def. Australia 19
Day 2
Australia 42 def. Tonga 0
New Zealand 19 def. Fiji 5
New Zealand 54 def. Tonga 12
Australia 26 def. Fiji 24
Day 3
Fiji 47 def. Tonga 5
New Zealand 17 def. Australia 12
Australia 35 def. Tonga 7
Fiji 12 def. New Zealand 5
