New Zealand have been smashed 40-21 by South Africa in the final of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.
The South Africans got off to a flying start, leading 28-0 at half time and never looked back.
The Blitz Bokke scored again straight after the break, before New Zealand finally got on the scorecard through a Ben Lam try.
However, any chance of a New Zealand comeback was quickly snuffed out with South Africa scoring immediately, before tries from Tim Mikkelson and Gilles Kaka gave the scoreboard some respectability for the Kiwis.
Despite the loss New Zealand remains first in the world series.
In the third place playoff, Samoa beat Fiji 36-31 in an extra time thriller.
- nzherald.co.nz
