5 Feb 2018

All Blacks Sevens slump to fourth; Fji win

7:07 am on 5 February 2018

The All Black Sevens side have to settle for a disappointing fourth place finish in the Hamilton leg of the world series tournament.

Fiji won the title with a come from behind win over South Africa in the final.

Fiji celebrate with their Hamilton tournament win.

Fiji celebrate with their Hamilton tournament win. Photo: Photosport

New Zealand were eliminiated by Fiji in the semi-final final and were then pipped 8-7 by a last gasp Australia penalty in the third place playoff.

In the title match South Africa blew a 17-5 lead as Fiji scored 17 unanswered points to claim their first tournament win of the season.

After four rounds South Africa sit at the top of the series table with New Zealand second and Fiji third.

The New Zealand coach Clarke Laidlaw said he was frustrated with the fourth place finish.

Tim Mikkelson scored his 200th international try for the All Black Sevens.

Tim Mikkelson scored his 200th international try for the All Black Sevens. Photo: Photosport

"We played some pretty good footy but some little mistakes crept in at the end of the tournament and I suppose cost us in the end," he said.

"Over the two weeks we've blooded some new players. We feel as if we've grown as a group off the field and I suppose now is the time to go back and really start working hard towards Las Vegas and Vancouver." said.

One of the highlights of the tournament for the New Zealanders was the achievement of Tim Mikkelson scoring his 200th try, the most by any New Zealander and the sixth highest total in the competition's history.