14 Dec 2014

All Blacks Sevens reach quarters

1:30 pm on 14 December 2014

The New Zealand men's rugby sevens team will face the United States in the Cup quarter-finals at the latest round of the World Series in South Africa, after going through pool play unbeaten.

Joe Webber on the run in Port Elizabeth

Joe Webber on the run in Port Elizabeth Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The All Blacks Sevens qualified top of their group in Port Elizabeth with comfortable wins over Japan, 29-0 and Samoa, 24-7, before just edging England 5-0, thanks to Joe Webber's lone try.

After two disappointing tournaments to start the season, coach Sir Gordon Tietjens says his players need to work on their attitude.

The All Blacks Sevens are without a title this World Series and headed into this weekend's tournament in fourth place in the standings.

Coach Gordon Tietjens holds the IRB 7s World Series Trophy and DJ Forbes holds the London 7s Trophy after the match. 2014.

Coach Gordon Tietjens holds the IRB 7s World Series Trophy and DJ Forbes holds the London 7s Trophy after the match. 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 12-time champions are coming off a 28-0 hiding by South Africa in their last semi-final in Dubai.

Tietjens says injury-wise they pulled up fine from Dubai, it's the mental side of being beaten the way they were beaten that is concerning, but it's something that can certainly be fixed.

He says he puts a lot of it down to perhaps they weren't really tested in the first four games.

Tietjens says they lacked possession, they lacked accuracy and they couldn't get out of their own half.

For a squad that prides itself on their physicality, Tietjens also admits they were outmuscled and outplayed by the South Africans.

Fiji lead the series ahead of South Africa and Australia.

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