The All Blacks saw off the challenges of England and Wales with relative ease in the knockout stages to keep alive their unbeaten Commonwealth streak, but they were pushed to the limit in the final.

Australia secured their best finish at the Games with a silver medal while South Africa ensured Southern Hemisphere dominance by beating England 17-14 in the bronze medal match.

New Zealand were without playmaker Tomasi Cama for the final but their attacking instinct appeared undimmed as Lote Raikabula opened the scoring.

However, a yellow card for All Black Liam Messam opened up space for Wallabies, with wing Lachie Turner crossing over the try line to cut the deficit to 7-5 before a finely judged chip-and-chase from Luke Morahan left the Kiwis three points adrift at the break.

The possibility of the sevens title being won by a team other than New Zealand for the first time increased as James Stannard dotted down to open up a 17-7 lead for Australia on the resumption.

The response was emphatic however, as substitute Sherwin Stowers' pace took him over and All Black skipper D J Forbes' support running added another try to put New Zealand 19-17 ahead before Kurt Baker touched down with the last play of the game.




Following the match, an emotional Forbes said: "I have been injured for three months so I am just grateful to God for blessing the boys.

"This is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life and I am grateful Tietjens had the faith to select me because I have not done much running.

"I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying instead and it is an honour to captain this side."

South Africa had earlier claimed the bronze medal after fighting back from 14-5 down at half-time to beat England 17-14.

A late try from the Springbok's Lulabalo Mtembu left England trailing in the final minute and despite two late breaks from Ben Gollings they couldn't find a way through.

Head coach Ben Ryan admitted his side were "bitterly disappointed" but insisted he has the players to go on and make a major impact in the International Rugby Board (IRB) IRB Sevens World Series that begins in Dubai in December.

He said: "We leave Delhi without anything and we're bitterly disappointed.

"It's very frustrating but I believe in these players and believe we can go on and win a World Series with this side."

Bernado Botha's breakaway try put South Africa 5-0 up early on but England seized control with Gollings giving Mathew Turner the chance to score.

They went 14-5 clear through 20-year-old wing Dan Caprice's stunning solo score with Gollings converting twice.

But England couldn't turn some early second half pressure into points and Cecil Afrika's kick-and-chase try and superb conversion hauled the Springboks back into it before Mtembu took the game out of England's reach.

Earlier, England had started the day promisingly by beating sevens world champions Samoa 7-5 in the quarter finals thanks to a Greg Barden try and Gollings conversion.

But they did not get going in the semi final against New Zealand with Isoa Damudamu and Caprice scoring consolation tries in a 33-12 defeat.

Papua New Guinea had earlier won the first piece of silverware of the day, beating Canada 17-10 in the Bowl final, before Samoa ran in six tries against Scotland to collect another consolation prize in the Plate.

The tournament was a great advert for rugby sevens which will feature in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games programme after the International Olympic Committee voted to include the sport on the programme at its Session in Copenhagen last year.

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