Fiji were one of three sides to reach the quarter-finals with a 100 per cent pool record ©World Rugby

Defending champions Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand booked their places in the quarter-finals of the World Rugby Sevens Series event in Vancouver with their 100 per cent records still in tact on the opening day of the sixth competition of the season.

The Fijians, who currently lead the overall standings following their triumph in Las Vegas last weekend, signalled their intentions from the outset as they comfortably beat Samoa 38-5, before they went on to annihilate Portugal 62-0.

They were made to work harder for their third straight win in Pool A, however, as they met a resilient Kenyan side and it needed a last-gasp try from Kitione Taliga to seal a 24-19 victory.

Fiji will face the United States, who finished fourth on home soil at the Las Vegas Sevens, in the quarter-finals tomorrow.

South Africa, currently second on the leaderboard behind the Pacific nation, also began the tournament at BC Place in style as they scored 16 tries and conceded just one to claim top spot in Pool C.

The Blitzboks put Scotland to the sword in their opener, notching a commanding 43-0 success, and were then too strong for Rio 2016 Olympic Games hosts Brazil as they clinched a 26-7 win.

Their last contest of the day also proved to be a one-sided affair as they thrashed Argentina 27-0 and they will entertain Wales, who will be making their first quarter-final appearance of the season, tomorrow.

Hosts Canada caused one of the surprise results of the Series so far when they beat Australia early on the first day of the event in Vancouver
Hosts Canada caused one of the surprise results of the Series so far when they beat Australia early on the first day of the event in Vancouver ©World Rugby

New Zealand, who were again without two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams, who reportedly aggravated a knee injury after he had to fly economy class rather than business from Auckland to San Francisco on the way to the Las Vegas Sevens, were the only other team to progress to the next round unscathed.

The All Blacks laboured to a narrow 7-0 success against England before edging France 24-10 and the United States 17-5 to finish at the summit of Pool D and set up a meeting with Samoa in the last eight.

Earlier on day one at the Vancouver Sevens, host nation Canada had sprung a surprise as they overcame Australia 14-12 in a thrilling contest, though they weren’t able to make it out of their pool, losing out to the Welsh side on points difference.

Despite the shock defeat, Australia’s victories over Wales and Russia saw them book a last eight berth as Pool B winners.

They will go up against Scotland, who have also reached their first main draw quarter-final of the season by virtue of finishing second in Pool C.