22 May 2017

NZ sevens rue costly error

7:00 am on 22 May 2017

The New Zealand men's sevens team have ended the world series on an embarrassing note, blowing a huge lead and making a costly counting error as they were dumped out of the final London round by Scotland in the quarter-finals.

All Blacks Sevens veteran DJ Forbes at the 2017 London Sevens.

All Blacks Sevens veteran DJ Forbes at the 2017 London Sevens. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

They were then crushed by Australia in the fifth place playoff.

Leading the quarter-final 21-0 at half-time at Twickenham, the All Black Sevens fell to a 24-21 defeat, their first ever loss to Scotland.

With just seconds remaining and New Zealand leading 21-17, an assistant referee spotted eight New Zealand players on the field and a penalty was awarded to Scotland, who promptly scored the match-winner

New Zealand was then humiliated by Australia in a the fifth-place semi-final, thrashed 40-7.

-RNZ