New Zealand celebrate their Rugby World Cup Sevens triumph
New Zealand claimed the World Cup Sevens title for the first time since 2001 with a 33-0 win over England in the final in Moscow.
Tim Mikkelson scored two tries and Tomasi Cama, Waisake Naholo and Gillies Kaka one each to give New Zealand a comfortable victory in sodden conditions at the Luzhniki Stadium.
“It’s been a long time between drinks,” New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said. “It was an outstanding performance in these conditions. They stuck to their game plan and played with heart out there.”
New Zealand, who defeated defending champions Wales in the quarter-finals earlier in the day, beat great rivals Fiji 17-0 in the semi-finals.
Delay
The match was halted for over an hour due to bad weather midway through the first half with New Zealand leading 12-0 after tries to Mikkelson and DJ Forbes.
Following thunder, torrential rain fell and the players were taken from the field for safety reasons.
The break did not appear to unsettle New Zealand as they added one further score from Bryce Heem to complete the win.
England beat Kenya 12-5 in the second semi-final, played in similarly atrocious conditions, a try-saving tackle from Dan Norton the difference in a game also dominated by kicking.
Ben Ryan’s team had earlier held off a fightback from Australia in their quarter-final, where they led 21-0 at half-time but ended up hanging on for a 21-17 win.
In the third place play-off Fiji beat Kenya 29-5, while Canada won the Plate, losing just one match all weekend to New Zealand, and there was celebration for the hosts Russia who won the Bowl.
Rugby World Cup Sevens final: New Zealand overwhelm England to end long wait
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