New Zealand have been given a huge wake-up call in their first game of the Wellington Sevens this afternoon after they were stunned 12-7 by Fiji.
Fiji, buoyed by a decent amount of support in Wellington, started the better of the teams, as they made New Zealand work hard on defence in greasy conditions at Westpac Stadium.
Sir Gordon Tietjens' side scrambled impressively though, as their world-famous conditioning proved useful.
Samisoni Viriviri was sent to the sin bin late in the first spell after he gave away a cynical penalty, but New Zealand's Scott Curry joined him shortly after for a penalty offence of his own.
With six players on the paddock for each side, Fiji took the lead when Emosi Mulevoro scored on the stroke of halftime as Fiji took a 5-0 lead to the split.
In need of something at the start of the second spell, New Zealand hit the front after Sherwin Stowers scored under the posts and Gillies Kaka, playing at pivot in place of Tomasi Cama, added the extras.
But Viriviri atoned for his earlier indiscretion in the best possible way when he scored under the posts with two minutes left to give the Fijians an early boost to their tournament aspirations this weekend.
The home side had their chances throughout the contest to claim the spoils but lacked execution and missed the veteran presence of Cama.
New Zealand play again at 5.54pm when they meet Spain.
Fiji 12 (Emosi Mulevoro, Samisoni Viriviri tries, Mulevoro con) New Zealand 7 (Sherwin Stowers try; Gillies Kaka con) Halftime: 5-0
- By Michael Brown of APNZ
