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Gold Coast Sevens: New Zealand remain the team to beat heading into the quarter-finals

Image: Sherwin Stowers of New Zealand

New Zealand made a powerful start to the defence of their Gold Coast Sevens title, emerging unbeaten from pool play on the first day of a tournament which begins rugby's qualifying process for the 2016 Olympic Games.

The top-ranked All Blacks emphatically beat France 36-7, Japan 59-0 and Samoa 28-17 in Pool A to set up a quarter-final clash with England.

England were upset by Argentina in their opening game in Pool D, losing 21-19, before managing to beat USA 14-7 and Canada 19-12.

South Africa topped Pool B to set up a quarter-final clash with hosts Australia, while Fiji won Pool C and will face Wales in the last eight and the Pumas play Samoa.

The Gold Coast tournament is the first of nine rounds of the IRB World Series. The top four teams at the end of the series will qualify to play in the first Olympic rugby sevens tournament at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, along with hosts Brazil.

New Zealand are the current world champions and have won the International Rugby Board World Series in 12 of the last 15 years, but their captain DJ Forbes is not taking anything for granted.

"We, like every other team, want to start with a bang," Forbes said. "Everyone knows how important this series will be with so much at stake and that will impact every tournament.                 

"The Olympics is at the back of our minds like everyone else, but we know to have a chance at qualifying we need to do the basics and tick the boxes along the way."                 

Argentina were the first team into the quarter-finals with three wins, following their victory over England with a 14-12 win over Canada and a 26-12 defeat of the USA.               

South Africa dominated Pool B, beating Wales 19-12, newcomers American Samoa 48-0 and African rivals Kenya 45-0.  

"A win is a win and we took all three of them today but we had a very slow start this morning," South Africa captain Frankie Horne said. "We're just lucky we got all three in our pool and we're hoping we can take it into tomorrow.

"It's all about consistency and taking it step by step."                

Fiji made their way to the quarter-finals impressively, beating Scotland 40-7, Portugal 38-0 and Australia 35-12. Semi Kunitani scored two tries as Fiji easily fended off the host nation in the deciding match in Pool C.          

"There are some serious teams out there from now on so we've got to be on the money," Fiji coach Ben Ryan said.         

England's day started badly with a first-up loss to Argentina and they now face the most difficult road through the quarter-finals, blocked by the defending champion.                 

"The whole day is up for grabs," England captain Phil Burgess said. "We've defended well in the last two games and showed some good heart. There are some tired bodies now and we will be glad of the rest this evening. We will come back fresh ready for tomorrow morning."

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