Against Canada, simple tries from Ameniasi Nava and Sireli Naqelevuki gave Fiji a 10-0 lead, and Vima Tuidraki looked to have added another before his effort was ruled out by the touch judge.

Neumi Nanuku scored midway through the second spell to make it 17-0, but then came Fiji's carelessness. First, Lepani Nabuliwaqa decided to go into contact just metres from his own line; he got turned over and Rob Turk scored for Canada.

Moments later, William Ryder attempted a suicidal pass in his own 22 and paid the price as Canada scored again to make it 17-14. Naqelevuki then saved Fiji's bacon with a late score.

Fiji lifted their game against Zimbabwe, piling up a 26-0 lead in the first six minutes after two tries from Nabuliwaqa and one each from Naqelevuki and Napolioni Nalaga.

With Nabuliwaqa down hurt, Zimbabwe pulled a score back, but in the second spell Nalaga scored his second when he gave good support to sprint around the outside by Ryder. Nabuliwaqa then completed his hat trick and Vima Tuidraki came off the bench to score the seventh and complete the win.

The scoring sensations that are Ryder, Naqelevuki and Nabuliwaqa scored a brace of tries each against Samoa while the 20-year-old Nalaga forced his way over for one.

In this game, Fiji found their form and dominated the re-starts after some poor retention in the first two matches.

Their defence also held firm, conceding just the one try against a very competent Samoan team.

Dubai 7s champions South Africa look the team to beatthough New Zealand also won all three of their matches.

Pool B

Pool B was tight from the very start with England eventually topping the group from Wales. Tal Selley's try on his return to the Welsh squad helped them to come back from 14-0 down and draw the opening match against England. The Welsh then beat Argentina and the gutsy Portuguese to book their place in the Cup quarter finals.

England recovered from the early draw to beat Portugal, new cap Charlie Amesbury among the tries in a 58-5 win, and the Pumas also won against the Portuguese to set up an intriguing final match where a win would have put either England or Argentina through. England sealed an easy win to top the group.

Pool C

Hosts South Africa dominated pool C from the outset with Player of the Tournament in Dubai Stefan Basson again outstanding. Paul Treu's men opened up with a 45-7 win over Kenya and then beat Uganda 57-0 with a near faultless display and France in the driving rain.

France started with a 22-7 win over Uganda but had to work far harder against Kenya, coming from 12-7 down to beat the Kenyans 22-19, Marc Giraud and Bogdan Leonte with the decisive scores before Horace Otieno's consolation.

Pool D

New Zealand kept up their good form in Dubai and out-performed all of their opponents in Pool D's opening matches, easily dispatching Scotland and Tunisia before holding off another late day one rally from trans-tasman rivals Australia.

Tunisia it is, though, who join them in the Cup quarter finals after they beat Australia 21-12 to provide George with its first upset, and then Scotland 33-14. Australia earlier beat Scotland.

Quarter-finals line-up
Fiji v Wales
England v Samoa
South Africa v Tunisia
New Zealand v France

Results for Friday 8 December

Pool A
Fiji 22 Canada 14
Samoa 28 Zimbabwe 12
Fiji 47 Zimbabwe 7
Samoa 31 Canada 10
Canada 19 Zimbabwe 0
Fiji 45 Samoa 5

Pool B
England 14 Wales 14
Argentina 19 Portugal 12
England 58 Portugal 5
Argentina 7 Wales 10
Wales 17 Portugal 5
England 26 Argentina 7

Pool C
South Africa 45 Kenya 7
France 22 Uganda 7
South Africa 57 Uganda 0
France 22 Kenya 19
Kenya 33 Uganda 0
South Africa 34 France 0

Pool D
New Zealand 35 Scotland 5
Australia 12 Tunisia 21
New Zealand 33 Tunisia 0
Australia 31 Scotland 12
Scotland 14 Tunisia 33
New Zealand 29 Australia 14

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