New Zealand, Australia and France in pole position at Sao Paulo 7s

New Zealand, Australia and France went unbeaten on day one of the Sao Paulo 7s on Saturday, setting up some mouth-watering quarter-finals on day two.

With a samba party atmosphere in Arena Barueri and the Olympic torch in attendance, the reigning series champions New Zealand returned to form in the sunshine, easily beating USA, Spain and Russia. Australia faced-down challenges from rivals Canada as well as Fiji and Ireland to top Pool A, while Pool C was topped by France who beat England, Japan and Brazil.

RESULTS AND RECAP FROM DAY ONE IN SAO PAULO >>

Sunday will see Australia play Fiji in the first of the Cup quarter-finals, New Zealand face their hosts Brazil, France take on Canada and England play USA. The Bowl semi-finals will see Spain play Japan and Ireland face Russia.

With the road to Rio getting even shorter, the Olympic torch made an appearance at the Sao Paulo 7s, as many of the qualified teams for Rio used the competition to hone their skills and patterns ahead of the biggest stage of them all in August.

RIGHTS-FREE IMAGES FROM SAO PAULO >>

With the clocks going back an hour in Brazil on Saturday night, the action resumes on Sunday morning at 11am (-3 GMT) when Australia take on Fiji at Arena Barueri.

For more information, please contact:

EOIN MCHUGH

Tournament Communications Manager, World Rugby

T: +353-1-240-9214 / +353-86-0212-196

E: eoin.mchugh@worldrugby.org

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