Hosts New Zealand, current Series leaders England and Australia ended day one with 100% records at the 2011 NZI Sevens, the third leg of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Michael O'Connor's Australian side defeated reigning World Series champions Samoa 29-5 to top Pool C and set up a Cup quarter final against South Africa whilst England beat Wales 33-7 and New Zealand defeated Argentina 34-7 to top their respective pools.
Cup quarter finals
England v Argentina
Fiji v Samoa
Australia v South Africa
New Zealand v Wales
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Bowl quarter finals
USA v Scotland
France v Kenya
Tonga v Canada
Papua New Guinea v Cook Islands
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England currently lead the way in the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series with 44 points, but New Zealand (40), Samoa (36) and defending NZI Sevens champions Fiji (32) will all be looking to close the gap before the USA Sevens on 12-13 February in Las Vegas.
Pool A - ENG, WAL, USA, COK
James Rodwell scored two of five England tries as they beat Wales 33-7 to end day one with a 100% record.
Two second half tries from Mat Turner and one from captain Ben Gollings helped England defeat the Cook Islands 21-17 after trailing 17-0 at half-time. Dan Caprice had also scored two tries in a 31-10 victory over USA in their opening pool match.
Wales finished as runners-up in Pool A after Paul John's side were too strong for Al Caravelli's USA, scoring six tries in their 36-5 victory.
The reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens champions earlier defeated the Cook Islands 31-12 - Adam Vardy and Nathan Robinson scored for Ramsey Tomokino's side but two tries from Ifan Evans helped secure victory for the Welsh.
USA ensured they finished third after narrowly beating the Cook Islands 19-14.
NEW! Aussie Gold at 2011 NZI Sevens
Pool B - NZL, ARG, SCO, PNG
New Zealand finished proceedings on day one by beating Argentina 34-7. Flyer Frank Halai scored the second hat-trick of day one, whilst fellow NZI Sevens debutant Declan O'Donnell added two further tries in the victory against Los Pumas.
Earlier they scored seven tries in their victory against Papua New Guinea, including two from Buxton Popoalii, to secure their place in the Cup quarter finals. Halai scored his first two tries of the day in their 29-12 victory against Scotland.
They will now play Wales in the Cup quarter finals in search of their first NZI Sevens title since 2008, whilst Argentina face a match with current Series leaders England after a 22-14 victory against Scotland and a 14-10 win over Papua New Guinea.
Francisco Merello and Gonzalo Taboada crossed for the South Americans in the opening half but they had to dig deep to hold on in the second after Henry Liliket and Douglas Guise had hit back for Papua New Guinea.
Scotland suffered a third defeat on day one, losing 14-12 to Shane Howarth's team, who played out the last two minutes with six men.
Pool C - SAM, AUS, KEN, TGA
Australia ended day one with a 100% record after a convincing 29-5 victory over reigning World Series champions Samoa. Ed Jenkins scored two of their five tries to top Pool C, after opening victories over Kenya and Tonga.
Michael O'Connor's side left it late against Kenya, needing a late Shaun Foley try and nerves of steel from Hamish Angus to convert and snatch a late 21-19 victory.
Sidney Ashioya had earlier received the biggest cheer of the day as he gave Kenya a 19-14 lead against Australia, but when they were reduced to six men in the final seconds they were unable to hold on.
In their opening match Henry Vanderglas marked his return to the Australia Sevens squad with their opening try of the day in their 47-7 victory against 2008 NZI Sevens Cup semi finalists Tonga in the day's second match, with captain Bernard Foley also scoring two tries.
Two tries from Afa Aiono helped Samoa defeat South Sea Island rivals Tonga 17-0, which added to an earlier 24-21 victory against Kenya. Ofisa Treviranus came off the bench to score two tries in the second half of the opening match on day one. In the same match captain Lolo Lui scored the opening try of the 2011 NZI Sevens against Kenya.
In the penultimate Pool C match, Tonga defeated Kenya 17-10 to finish third and face a Bowl quarter final with Canada.
Pool D - FIJ, RSA, FRA, CAN
Defending champions Fiji head into day two unbeaten after finishing day one with a 7-7 draw against Paul Treu's South Africa.
Fiji began the defence of their NZI Sevens title in emphatic fashion - 42-0 and 38-0 victories against France and Canada.
Mitieli Nacagilvu and Watisoni Votu scored two tries apiece against France before Seremaia Burotu scored the first hat-trick of the 2011 NZI Sevens against Canada, taking his tally to 16 for the season.
Mathieu Acebes kicked a decisive conversion following Renaud Delmas' try seconds before the final whistle as France defeated South Africa 14-12 in Pool D. Paul Treu's side had twice held the lead, but Renfred Dazel's missed conversion at the start of the second half proved to be decisive.
France were unable, however, to beat Canada in their final Pool D match to progress to the Cup quarter finals. Three Canada tries, including one from captain Nathan Hirayama, meant Geriant John's side secured a 19-14 victory.
Paul Treu's South Africa have won the NZI Sevens just once, in 2002, and currently sit fifth in the World Series with 24 points. They beat Canada 31-5 in their first match of day one, captain Kyle Brown helping with two tries and they now face Australia in the Cup quarters.
Video: Get to know New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes
