New Zealand have broken a six-year jinx at the Hong Kong Sevens, taking their fifth title in a row in the 2007/8 series with a 26-12 win over South Africa in the final on Sunday - their seventh title in a row over the last two seasons.

In a one-sided final the Kiwis streaked to an early lead, and despite a breakaway try by Mzwandile Stick to bring the Boks back into the game, the result was rarely in doubt.

Gordon Tietjens's team appear to be on an unstoppable march to an eighth IRB World Sevens Series title in nine years - a run only broken by Fiji in 2006 - having won 30 points in Hong Kong to go 38 points clear of the Springboks in the standings.

And the series could be sealed in Adelaide, the third from last event, next week.

Lote Raikabula found a gap to cross under the posts after just one minute of the final as the men in black demonstrated their intent.

Raikabula again burst through the Springboks' defence and off-loaded to Steven Yates, who crossed for his eighth try of the tournament.

Stick collected a loose ball and raced through to score under the posts as South Africa pulled within seven points but Raikabula barged over from close range on the hooter.

Tomasi Cama, the leading scorer on the circuit this season with 188 points, successfully converted for the third time for a 21-7 interval lead.

Zar Lawrence went over on the left wing less than two minutes into the second half to leave the Springboks facing a 19-point deficit which they could not overcome.

South Africa claimed a consolation when Fabian Juries, the leading try-scorer in the series with 30, touched down but New Zealand secured a historic triumph.

New Zealand captain DJ Forbes said: "We had come here for victory and the way we've done it, it's something to be proud of.

"This team will be remembered - we've made history.

"This is my third Hong Kong - we lost in two semis - and to win this one is something special.

"I've been blessed to be a part of this team, let alone be captain."

Tietjens, who has been in charge of the team for 15 years, said: "To go and win it like we have and continue quite a good winning run, is really pleasing."

Tietjens was reluctant to compare past teams with the current crop, but South Africa captain Neil Powell believes the 2008 line-up are the best yet.

"Their record speaks for itself," he said.

"They're not on a roll for nothing; they're a really special team and if you want to beat them you have to bring something special to the field."

New Zealand kicked off Sunday's challenge against Wales, winning 26-7 before they humbled Fiji 34-0 to reach a seventh consecutive final.

In the semi-final, the Kiwis' bruising physicality and fitness was simply too much for the Fijians as Forbes again led by example with two tries. Yates also added a brace to the two he grabbed against Wales and there were also tries for Victor Vito and the outstanding Cama.

The second semi-final was altogether more competitive, South Africa edging defending champions Samoa to reach a first ever Hong Kong final. Alatasi Tupou cancelled out MJ Mentz's opener and Lolo Lui looked to have sealed the tie with a monster drop goal, before Mzwandile Stick's try wide out on the left wing won the match 12-10.

England's bid for a fifth Hong Kong Sevens title in seven years was ended by a narrow 17-12 quarter-final defeat to defending champions Samoa.

Ben Ryan's team had beaten Samoa in four out of five previous meetings in Hong Kong, including in Pool B on Day Two where they emerged narrow 7-5 victors.

But the Pacific islanders avenged the group defeat to set up a last-four meeting with South Africa.

Ryan was pleased with the performance of his team, which featured five of England's Grand Slam-winning Under-20 squad.

"Playing them twice in two days, one score between us, it's hard work," said Ryan of Samoa.

"I said yesterday, Sevens is a knife edge. We came out on the right side yesterday, we didn't today.

"I'm proud of the guys, as I was yesterday. They've come through very quickly.

"We've had very little preparation - only the time in Hong Kong - and there are youngsters out there who are putting their hearts and souls into the England shirt.

"It was a very good performance and a typical Hong Kong quarter-final."

Wales were unable to stop overwhelming favourites New Zealand, falling to a 26-7 cup quarter-final loss.

In the Plate, France won their first silverware of the season, beating Argentina 17-14 after a minute of sudden-death extra-time.

France got off to a flying start with first half tries from Vincent Roux and Simon Sarthou, while Argentina responded through Gonzalo Camacho to leave the match delicately balanced 14-7 at the interval. The second half was a tense affair, but it was Argentina who scored the only try of the half through Gabriel Ascarte to level the scores and take the match into extra time sudden death.

With the scores locked at 14-14, France pressed for an early score and secured their first silverware of the 2007/08 series with a Simon Sarthou penalty drop kick after just 41 seconds.

Claude Saurel's bright young Russian side beat off the challenge of pacy Zimbabwe to retain the Hong Kong Bowl, 19-14.

Gerald Sibanda and Tendayi Hondo scored early on for the Africans but Sergey Belousov's effort kept the Russians in touch, down 14-7 at the break. Oleg Kobzev's effort brought the scores level soon after before flyer Aleksandr Gvozdovskiy raced clear to break the deadlock and hand victory to the Russians, who also take one point for the overall Series.

Earlier Zimbabwe beat off the brave challenge of host nation Hong Kong and Russia had proved too strong for Korea.

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