New Zealand men and women have navigated the opening day of the Toulouse Sevens unbeaten, sewing up spots in the Sunday's (NZ time).
But fast-finishing United States made the All Blacks Sevens work for their second victory of the tournament, with Joe Webber scoring twice and Akuila Rokolisoa converting his own try in the Kiwis' 19-17 result.
Earlier, the NZ men accounted for Scotland 19-0 and are the only unbeaten side left in their pool, with a showdown against trans-Tasman rivals Australia scheduled for 11:06pm Saturday. The Aussies toppled the Tokyo Olympics silver medallists at the Vancouver quarter-finals last month, but dropped their opening match against the USA at Toulouse.
If the All Blacks Sevens fall to Australia and the Americans beat Scotland, the quarter-final spots will be decided by points-difference countback.
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns Sevens have barely raised a sweat in their opening exchanges, overwhelming Scotland 45-0 and Spain 29-0.
Michaela Blyde, Niall Williams and Stacey Fluhler all scored try doubles against the Scots, while Blyde repeated the haul against the Spanish. The NZ women face unbeaten Canada for top spot in their pool at 7:52pm Saturday.
Archrivals Australia had to come from behind to head off Fiji, scoring two tries in the final three minutes to prevail 31-21.
Black Ferns Sevens 45 (Blyde 2, Williams 2, Fluhler 2, Willison tries; Pouri-Lane 4 & Willison conversions) Scotland 0
Black Ferns Sevens 29 (Blyde 2, Hotham, Woodman, Kaka tries; Willison 2 conversions) Spain 0
All Blacks Sevens 19 (Tagitau, McGarvey-Blak & Nicole tries; McGarvey-Black & Rokolisoa conversions) Scotland 0
All Blacks Sevens 19 (Webber 2 & Rokolisoa tries; McGarvey-Black & Rokolisoa conversions) USA 17 (Lacamp, Williams & Noble tries; Tomasin conversion)
