4 Feb 2012

NZ meet France in Sevens quarterfinals

6:29 am on 4 February 2012

New Zealand have beaten Samoa 19-7 in their final group match for Friday in the IRB sevens tournament in Wellington.

Frank Halai and Tim Mikkelson scored for New Zealand in the first half and Solomon King after the interval.

The side saw off Scotland and Japan by wide margins earlier in the day - 29-7 and 54-0.

In one of the other big games of the day, South Africa beat England 14-10 to top their group.

Fiji beat Wales 17-0.

Tonga surprisingly topped that group, knocking out the Welsh thanks to a surprise win earlier in the day over Fiji.

Australia were eliminated from the competition after drawing 10-all with France, who now play New Zealand in Saturday's quarterfinals.

Canada qualified from that group along with the French after they beat Kenya in their evening match.