New Zealand, Wales, Samoa and England all maintained 100% records on day one at the 2012 Tokyo Sevens, round seven of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

DAY ONE: AS IT HAPPENED! >>
FIXTURES/RESULTS >> 

Conditions were cold, wet and windy at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground, making it tough for the players and fans, who braved the coldest weather experienced on the Series for some time.

Series leaders New Zealand earned themselves a quarter final with Argentina. England's reward for their victory against Fiji was a match with South Africa. 

Day one highlights

Samoa, who impressed with a 38-7 victory against South Africa in their final pool match, will face Fiji in their quarter final.

"I think we just managed to acclimatise, the weather hasn't been great and the boys found it very difficult earlier today," said Samoa head coach Stephen Betham.

"This is the coldest we have come across, certainly in the past three yeas since I have been coach.

"The conditions aren't easy so credit to the players, not just us, to all the players, for coming out here and showing the skill level they have."

Wales will meet Australia in the other quarter final, whilst the other remaining eight teams enter the Bowl competition.

"Tokyo is back on the World Series as a host city after an 11 year absence and we see huge potential here," said the IRB's Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan, who himself played club rugby in Japan.

"The weather today has been unusual for this time of year and it's made it a difficult day for the players and the fans with the wind and rain, but the Japanese Union has worked very hard.

"More tickets were pre-sold for this event than for any rugby match or event held in Japan and it is a first, important stepping stone towards their hosting of Rugby World Cup 2019." 

Pool A (FIJ, ENG, FRA, JPN)

England beat Fiji 14-7 to maintain their 100% record on day one and set up a quarter final with South Africa.

Tom Mitchell and Dan Norton scored the two tries in a morale boosting victory for Ben Ryan's side who are missing forwards Chris Cracknell and Isoa Damu.

Earlier they beat Japan 15-5 thanks to tries from Mat Turner, Tom Powell and Rob Vickerman before they beat France, in a repeat of the Dubai Sevens Cup final, 19-7, thanks to tries from Chris Brightwell, Mitchell and Turner. 

Last week's Hong Kong Sevens winners Fiji, who sit just two points behind Series leaders New Zealand in the overall standings, began with a 17-0 victory against France thanks to two tries from Waisea Nayacalevu before beating the hosts 26-7. 

The hosts Japan will enter the Bowl quarter finals having finished fourth in Pool A after losing 24-5 against France in their final match on day one.

Pool B (NZL, AUS, USA, HKG)

Current Series leaders New Zealand became the first side to book their place in the quarter finals as pool winners by beating trans-Tasman rivals Australia 22-10 in their final Pool A match to maintain their 100% record on day one. 

Earlier, Gordon Tietjens' side added a 40-0 victory against Hong Kong, thanks to two tries each from Mark Jackman and Waisake Naholo, to a 26-5 win against USA in the day's opening match. Tomasi Cama, Ardie Savea, Bryce Heem and Charles Piutau all crossed for the defending Series champions.  

Daniel Yakopo scored twice in Australia's 15-0 victory against USA after they narrowly beat last week's hosts Hong Kong 17-14 but they enter the Cup quarter finals as Pool B runners-up.

USA and Hong Kong played out for third place in Pool B, with Rocco Mauer scoring the winning try for USA in a 21-19 victory with the final play of the match.

Pool C (ARG, WAL, KEN, RUS)

Wales top Pool C after beating Argentina 17-5 and maintaining their 100% record on day one. 

Earlier, the reigning RWC Sevens champions recorded a 10-7 victory against next year's RWC Sevens hosts Russia in their opening match before Richie Pugh, Lee Williams, Harry Robinson and Richard Smith scored tries in their 22-0 victory against Kenya.

Argentina made it two wins from two as they beat Russia 22-0 to add to an earlier 15-7 victory against Kenya and set up a repeat of the RWC Sevens 2009 final against Wales in the Pool C decider, but will still enter the Cup quarters as runners-up. 

Russia finished third in Pool C after two Vladimir Ostroushko tries helped his side to a 26-17 victory against Kenya. 

Pool D (RSA, SAM, SCO, POR)

USA Sevens champions Samoa beat South Africa 38-7 thanks to tries from Ken Pisi either side of half time as the islanders proved too strong on the day for South Africa, putting in a fine performance to see off Paul Treu's men.

Earlier, the 2009/10 Series champions survived a second half scare against Portugal, holding on to a 21-20 victory in their opening Tokyo Sevens match before edging Scotland 12-7 thanks to a late try from Pisi.

South Africa also beat Portugal, the third and final side to claim one of the three core team spots on offer for the next World Series last week in Hong Kong, 14-7 thanks to tries from Cornal Hendricks and Branco du Preez.

Despite being without the injured IRB Sevens Player of the Year Cecil Afrika, Paul Treu's side also defeated Scotland 14-0 in their first match thanks to tries from captain Kyle Brown and the impressive Hendricks.

Portugal came from 7-0 down to beat Scotland 15-7 in the penultimate Pool D match and finish third heading into the Bowl quarter finals, Sebastiao de Cunha scoring two of their three tries.

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