CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — New Zealand scored in the left corner more than a minute after the fulltime hooter to beat host South Africa 26-21 and scrape through to the quarterfinals at the Cape Town World Rugby Sevens.
The series leader was in danger of missing the cup quarterfinals for the first time ever before a thrilling finish to pool play on the first day on Saturday.
New Zealand trailed 21-14 but Sione Molia scored his second try in the last minute and Andrew Knewstubb hurriedly kicked a conversion with just a second on the clock to level — and force the game to restart. The New Zealanders retrieved possession from the kickoff and swept forward, with Vilimoni Koroi finishing the final move to keep New Zealand alive.
South Africa qualified as group winner and New Zealand went through at the expense of Samoa.
The United States, Fiji and Australia topped the other groups, winning all three of their pool games.
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