New Zealand-Samoa final

IRB - Saturday, February 02, 2008 7:24 PM

Favourites New Zealand remain on course at their home event in Wellington after surviving a quarter final round full of upsets and then beating Australia to reach a final against Samoa.

Two tries by Lote Raikabula helped the kiwis through against Wales before Steven Yates and Zar Lawrence both grabbed a brace against the Aussies (32-7).

Mikaele Pesamino was then again among the tries as Samoa withstood a brave Tongan fight back to make a first Cup final of the series (24-21) and ensure that their Wellington title defence goes down to the wire in a replay of the final pool match of day one.

The cup final is at 8pm (Fiji time)

Plate competition
Wales will play South Africa in the final of the Plate after they recorded respective semi final wins over Scotland and Fiji.
Tal Selley scored one try and had a hand in much of Wales' best work in their 24-12 win over the Scots before Fabian Juries and Juan de Jongh inspired the Boks to a win against the Fijians.

South Africa stormed out to a lead through de Jongh's hat trick before the Fijians levelled at 19-19 but Juries again proved the match winner with a searing burst of pace to see Paul Treu's men through to the final.

Bowl competition
England and Argentina, neither of whom won any of their matches on day one, both recovered to reach the final of the Bowl. England first beat Canada and then France, while the Pumas Kenya and then the brave challenge of the Cook Islands.

Tries by Ayoola Erinle and Dominic Shabbo saw England through to the final against the French before two tries each by Nicolas Bruzzone and Pablo Gomez Cora helped the Pumas through.

Shield competition
The USA are through to the final of the shield after beating North American rivals Canada. They will face Kenya after the Africans beat Papua New Guinea in the other semi final.

Earlier the USA lost out in sudden death extra time in the tightest of the Bowl quarter finals against France.