By Michael John Oliver
New Zealand will play Samoa in the final of the Las Vegas Sevens, after dispatching South Africa 20-7 in this morning’s cup semi final.
New Zealand scored four tries to one in a fast and furious display of sevens rugby.
The New Zealanders kicked things off early after a blistering break from Lote Raikabula led to a quickfire pass to Tim Mickelson, who flicked it up to Bryce Heem for the first try.
Tomasi Cama finished off a try he began with long pass in field to Charles Piutau who burst through the mid field and flicked a one-handed pass to Cama, who sprinted 40 metres to score in the corner.
South Africa lost a player to the bin after Boom Prinsloo failed to get back ten metres from a New Zealand penalty, which led to Piutau scooping the ball from the back of a South African ruck to feed Mark Jackman for New Zealand’s third try and a 15-0 half time lead.
New Zealand only added one try the second half when captain DJ Forbes muscled over in the corner to make the lead 20-0 and well out of range of a South African comeback.
Branco du Preez managed to save face for the South Africans with last minute try, but it was too little too late.
New Zealand will face their Pool A foes Samoa after they came from behind to beat Fiji 14-12 in the second semi final.
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