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IRB Sevens World Series leaders South Africa went unbeaten with New Zealand and hosts England on day one of the London Sevens at Twickenham, which produced twists and turns throughout.
 

At the end of the first day's play at the season's penultimate even, three of the four pools were decided by points difference with Scotland, France and Portugal progressing to the Cup quarter finals but Kenya, Argentina and Samoa all missing out.

Scotland upset Fiji 12-7 and then overcame the USA to book their place in a first Cup quarter-final this season, while Portugal and France both needed to wait for the result of nail-biting final matches with their destiny out of their hands.

South Africa remain poised to add the IRB Sevens World Series trophy to their silverware cabinet for the very first time. After a fine season, Paul Treu's side lies 28 points ahead of closest rivals England. Mathematically the Twickenham hosts can still catch them in the race for the title, although the Boks would have to slip up badly over the closing two tournaments, and England would probably need to win both.

London Sevens - Cup Quarter-finals:
South Africa v France
New Zealand v Fiji
Scotland v Portugal
England v Australia
 

Pool A

South Africa beat Australia 17-14 in a tight pool decider, Vuyo Zangqa crossing for the decisive try to ensure that the Boks' overall title aspirations on track. Earlier South Africa started with two impressive wins, 29-5 against World Cup-winners Wales and then 70-0 against Germany.

New-look Australia also kicked their Twickenham campaign off with two wins, outclassing Germany 50-0 and then coming from behind to beat Wales 31-21. In the Welsh game it was Ifan Evans and Craig Hill putting Wales ahead and Patrick McCutcheon pulled on back before the half, before a purple patch after the break that produced three quick scores for the Aussies through James Stannard and Shaun Foley (2) to secure the win and place in the Cup.

Pool B

England were made to work hard for their opening 20-14 victory against France, but then powered to a fine 61-0 win against Georgia.

In the pool decider with Samoa Ben Ryan's men had to show all of their mettle and captain Ollie Phillips inspired them to an impressive 31-14 win, which also denied Samoa a place in the Cup quarters by edging France ahead of them on points difference.

In another tigh pool it was France's late 57-7 win against Georgia that gave them every chance of making the Cup Quarter Finals.

Pool C

Scotland produced the biggest upset so far after recovering from an early loss against Kenya to beat Hong Kong champions Fiji 12-7 and top their pool. The Scots followed up the surprise win with a more routine 40-0 win against USA to reach a first Cup quarter final this season in the World Series.

In an intriguing pool Fiji then had to beat Kenya by at least 14 points to make it through to the Cup quarters in their place, and did so with a fine 26-5 victory. At 12-5 with three minutes to play the Kenyans seemed well set, but Seremaia Burotu added to Vereniki Goneva's two first half tries to make the lead 14, and Orisi Sareki sprinted clear on the hooter to seal victory.

For Scotland Scott Forrest opened the scoring against the Fijians but Emosi Vucago's converted score edged Fiji ahead before Greig Laidlaw's decisive try. Against USA, Andrew Turnbull scored a brace and Colin Gregor, John Houston, Scott Forrest and Ally Hogg one each to send the Scots through a week before their own event at Murrayfield.

Earlier, Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange had broken Scottish hearts in their opening game, scoring the winning try after the Africans came back from a 12-0 half time deficit.

Pool D

Zar Lawrence inspired New Zealand to a fine 38-0 win against the Pumas of Argentina to ensure that they top their group, Ben Souness' final try also sending Portugal through to the Cup quarter finals on points difference, in Argentina's place.

The New Zealanders had kicked off their London campaign with a superb six-try victory against Canada, and followed it with another impressive win 43-7 against Portugal. Solomon King set them on their way and Lote Raikabula and captain DJ Forbes also scored.

Argentina and Portugal started with a lung-busting 21-all draw, before the Pumas recovered to beat Canada 24-12. The Portuguese led against Argentina 14-7 at the break, Goncalo Foro scoring twice either side of Santiago Gomez Cora's effort. Gabriel Ascarate pulled it level early in the second half and the prolific Gomez Cora edged them ahead before Antonio de Aguilar's late try earned a deserved draw.

The Portuguese finished their day's play on a high, beating Canada 24-7 with Diogo Mateus scoring the 22,000th try in the 10 year history of the Series, and New Zealand's late burst against Argentina did them the ultimate favour to send them through to the Cup.