Gold Coast - New Zealand made a powerful start to the defense of its Gold Coast Sevens title, emerging unbeaten after pool play on the first day of a tournament which begins rugby's qualifying process for the 2016 Olympic games.
Playing in Pool A at the 16-team tournament, top-ranked New Zealand emphatically beat France 36-7, Japan 59-0 and Samoa 28-17 to set up a quarterfinal on Sunday with fourth-ranked England.
South Africa topped Pool B, Fiji topped Pool C and Argentina finished atop Pool D after upsetting England 21-19 in the first match of the opening day.
Argentina will now play Samoa, South Africa will play hosts Australia and Fiji will play Wales in Sunday's other quarterfinal matchups.