The All Blacks Sevens have completed the opening day of the Vancouver leg of the world sevens series unbeaten against Japan, Wales and Samoa to reach the quarter-finals.
Less than a week after returning to the series with a second-place finish at Singapore, the NZ men began their second event of the season in style with a 40-14 victory against Japan.
Six tries and six different tryscorers saw them overwhelm their rivals, as Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Brady Rush, Kitiona Vai, Moses Leo, captain Sam Dickson and Akuila Rokolisoa all crossed.
Yuki Ishii and Sitaleki Taufa Makisi scored for Japan, but they were nothing more than consolation tries.
In their second match of the day, the All Blacks Sevens outclassed Wales, scoring six more tries and conceding just one in return.
New Zealand opened the scoring after two minutes, as Rokolisoa had his second of the weekend, before Caleb Tangitau doubled the lead just two minutes later.
Two more tries to Vai and Leroy Carter in the space of a minute gave New Zealand an imposing 26-0 halftime lead, before Kurt Baker and Tone Ng Shiu scored after the break for a 38-0 advantage.
Wales got on the score sheet, as Morgan Williams scored with the final play of the game, as the Kiwis went two from two.
In their final match of the day, the All Blacks Sevens benefitted from a red card to Samoa's Paul Scanlan in the opening two minutes, before Tangitau opened the scoring from the next play.
Regan Ware crossed next for his first try of the weekend, but Samoa to hit back on the stroke of halftime, when Steve Rimoni's converted try brought the score back to 10-7.
But with the final play of the first half, New Zealand restored their 10-point lead through Rokolisoa, taking a 17-7 advantage into the break.
Ware secured his try double to start the second half, but again Samoa responded, this time through Owen Fetu and then again through Apelu Maliko to leave the Kiwis sweating at 24-19, with three minutes to play.
Tangitau joined Ware with two tries, making the most of the numerical advantage to exploit an overlap on the left wing, and racing away to score New Zealand's fifth and final try, as well as run the clock down.
Ware was sent to the sin bin for a late foul, as the All Blacks Sevens were forced to finish the match a man down and Samoa took full toll to score.
Even in defeat, Maliko had the final say with a brilliant individual effort, chipping over the defensive line, before regathering and scoring, as New Zealand held out for a 31-24 victory.
Atop Pool B, New Zealand will face the runners-up of Pool C Australia when the quarter-finals begin on Monday (NZ time).
