South Africa clinched their first IRB Sevens World Series title on day one at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield, and capped a historic day by beating eight-time champions New Zealand to top their pool.

Twenty points clear of England in the race for the overall title, Paul Treu's side needed just a single point from the final event in Edinburgh to guarantee Series success and will take at least four after reaching the Cup quarter finals.

- MURRAYFIELD RESULTS >>

On a fine day for African rugby Kenya also topped their pool at Murrayfield by beating both the hosts Scotland and the London champions of last weekend England. The English miss out on the Cup quarter finals after also losing to auld enemy Scotland in their opening match.


VIDEO: World Series Champions - Paul Treu, RSA coach

Cup quarter finals
South Africa v Australia
Samoa v Scotland
Kenya v Wales
Fiji v New Zealand

Pool A

On the day that they succeeded them as IRB Sevens World Series champions, South Africa also beat New Zealand in their pool decider 14-12. Mzwandile Stick converted Kyle Brown's two tries and although the Kiwis also scored twice through Kurt Baker and Paul Grant, they squandered a number of other opportunities.

South Africa began their World Series title chase with two more convincing wins against France and USA. Mpho Mbiyozo, Philip Snyman and Mzwandile Stick scored for a 21-0 half time lead against the French and in the second half Ryno Benjamin added two before Thomas Combezou and Paul Albaladejo crossed for consolations. Against the USA, Vuyo Zangqa scored two second half tries in a 34-5 win. Renfred Dazel, Mzwandile Stick, Gio Aplon and Mpho Mbiyozo also scored.

Defending Edinburgh champions New Zealand had started with two wins to book their Cup quarter final place. Baker grabbed a brace in their 29-5 win against USA and they outclassed France 22-5, Save Tokula's score building on a 17-5 half time lead. Ironically, the win also confirmed South Africa as their successors as IRB Sevens World Series champions by guaranteeing their place in the Cup quarters.

France beat USA 26-5 to finish in third place in the pool and secure a favourable draw in the Bowl quarter finals.

Pool B

Fiji pipped Australia at the death to win 26-19 and top their group, although both sides progress to the Cup quarter finals. Dominic Shipperley was inspirational for the young Wallaby seven scoring two tries to add to James Stannard's effort, but the Fijians pegged hit back through Nasoni Roko, Seremaia Burotu and Vereniki Goneva before Osea Kolinisau's late winner. Earlier, Waqa Kotobalavu and Orisi Sareki both scored a brace of tries as Fiji got off to a winning start against Portugal, 41-7, and then Pio Tuwai grabbed a hat trick in an even more convincing win against Spain, 40-0.

Australia also won their first two games against the Iberian neighbours. They beat Spain 24-7, building on a 10-7 half time lead with tries from Stannard, Willie Bishop, Shipperley and Shaun Foley and then overpowered Portugal, Clinton Sills crossing for a hat trick of tries in a 29-0 win.

In the all-Iberian clash Portugal beat Spain 33-10, Aderito Esteves outstanding with two tries and Pedro Leal, captain Diogo Mateus and Goncalo Foro also scoring.

Pool C

Kenya topped Pool C after finishing unbeaten on day one at Murrayfield against the hosts Scotland, Canada and London champions England. Scotland progress to the Cup quarter finals after winning their final match convincingly against Canada.

The season's top try-scorer Collins Injera crossed four times for the Africans as they first beat Canada 35-0 and the same man was on the score sheet again against Scotland as they twice came from behind to beat the Scots 22-17, captain Humphrey Kayange sprinting over for the winner at the death. And the Kenyans then put last weekend's Cup champions England to the sword, Injera again grabbing a try in their 21-14 victory to take his personal tally for the season to 41.

Earlier home side Scotland won only their second ever World Series victory against England, 33-17. Tries by John Houston, Greig Laidlaw and Sean Lamont put them 21-0 up and, although the London champions bit back through James Rodwell, Uche Oduoza and Ben Gollings, Roddy Grant and Andrew Turnbull completed Scotland's biggest ever win against the auld enemy. However, their subsequent loss against Kenya left them needing a victory against Canada to reach the Cup quarters, which they duly delivered, Colin Shaw (2), Ally Hogg and the outstanding Roddy Grant scoring the tries in a 26-5 win.

Pool D

Samoa proceeded from a tight Pool D along with World Cup-winners Wales. The Welsh beat Argentina and lost against Samoa but piled on the points against Georgia to guarantee qualification for the Cup quarter finals on points difference, and Samoa blitzed the Pumas in their winner-takes-all clash 42-7.

Argentina captain Santiago Gomez Cora scored five tries in the Pumas' opening two matches against Wales and Georgia, but even a hat trick against the Welsh was not enough for a win as they lost 19-17 in a repeat of the World Cup final. Gomez Cora's 15 first half points took him above New Zealand great Amasio Valence Raoma to third in the all time point-scoring list but Ifan Evans and Lee Beach both scored tries after the break, Beach's crucially converted by Aled Thomas for the win.

Will Harries scored three, Rhys Jones two and Merriman, Evans and Norris one apiece as the Welsh then brushed aside Georgia 50-7. The Pumas responded with a 50-0 crushing of Georgia, Gomez Cora, Gaston Revol and Alejo Fradua scoring twice each but the Samoans were in irresistible form in the last match, Mikaele Pesamino scoring two first half tries before they stretched away with five further scores. Earlier, Samoa started with a convincing 38-7 win against Georgia.

Series points on offer

Cup champions - 20 points
Cup runners-up - 16
Cup semi finalists (x2) - 12
Plate winners - 8
Plate runners-up - 6
Losing Cup quarter finalists & Plate semi finalists (x2) - 4
Bowl winners - 2