Sherwin Stowers led the charge for New Zealand on day one © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours IRB Sevens World Series

Teams Australia | Canada | England | Fiji | New Zealand | Samoa | South Africa

Canada stole the headlines on the opening day of the Wellington leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at Westpac Stadium, upsetting Argentina and France to book their place in the Cup quarter-finals.

Morgan Williams' Canucks progressed from Pool D along with Samoa, who inflicted the only defeat on the Canadians to progress into the last eight unbeaten. First-up, tries from Philip Mack, Sean Duke, Ciaran Hearn and Taylor Paris secured a 27-6 victory over the Pumas, before the French were defeated 21-19 in a thriller.

Canada's reward in the quarters is a tough meeting with unbeaten England, who will have to finish the weekend without injured skipper Kevin Barrett. The reigning champions had too much in reserve for the USA, winning 31-7 thanks to a Mat Turner brace, before powering past a feisty Tonga side. In their vital Pool game Ben Ryan's men saw off Kenya, who themselves booked a Cup spot against Samoa by defeating Tonga.

The hosts were in ominous form on day one, thrashing Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales 29-5 with a brace from Sherwin Stowers before another big win over minnows Niue. Stowers was again on the scoresheet as the current Series leaders defeated South Africa, last season's Series winners, 19-7, to ensure top spot. South Africa snuck in as a runner-up and face Fiji on day two, while there will be plenty of passion on display as New Zealand face Australia.

Fiji looked the side best placed to challenge the Kiwis for top honours after the opening exchanges, with a 38-7 rout of Australia complemented by comfortable wins over Scotland and the Waisale Serevi-coached Papua New Guinea.