Fiji recovered from a 14-12 defeat to Scotland to top Pool D and reach the Cup quarter finals at Murrayfield, leaving the race for second place in the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series wide open.
Hosts Scotland narrowly missed out on joining them, falling two points short in their 45-7 victory against USA in the final match on day one of the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens whilst World Series champions New Zealand, Wales and South Africa maintained their 100% records.
Cup quarter finals:
New Zealand v England
Fiji v Australia
South Africa v Samoa
Wales v France
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With New Zealand having already clinched the Series, England (121), South Africa (116), Samoa (112) and Fiji (110) will compete for the all-important second place on day two.
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Edinburgh Sevens: Play of the Day
Pool A: NZL, ARG, RUS, FRA
New Zealand will be hoping for a double celebration this weekend in Scotland, having already secured their ninth World Series title in 12 years, their first since 2009, and reaching the Cup quarter finals at Murrayfield in the 100th event in the World Series.
They maintained their 100% record with a 38-7 against Argentina thanks to a Frank Halai hat-trick, their third hat-trick of the day, and will now face England on day two.
Toby Arnold scored their first hat-trick of the day in the 43-0 win against Russia before Scott Curry's helped Gordon Tietjens, who has also been coach at all 100 tournaments, guide his side to a 43-5 win against the French.
Buoyed by reaching their first Cup quarter final since 2009 in London, France joined New Zealand in tomorrow's Cup quarter finals after beating Russia 10-5 and Argentina 7-5. Gonzalo Toboada had a chance to snatch a win for Los Pumas in their match with France, but missed a penalty in the dying seconds.
Argentina did manage to win their second pool match, 21-7 against Pavel Baranovsky's Russia, with captain Hernan Olivari, Toboada and Francisco Merello scoring tries in the victory and they will play Portugal in the Bowl quarter final.
Pool B: ENG, WAL, POR, ESP
Wales topped Pool B after a 19-12 victory against England, their first win against their rivals since 2008, thanks to two Adam Thomas tries.
Paul John's side, who reached their first Cup semi final since 2009 last weekend, narrowly beat Spain 7-5 in the fourth match of the day before a 35-12 victory against Portugal to set up a repeat of last week's Cup quarter final against France on day two.
Last week's hosts England still progress to the Cup quarter finals and will face New Zealand after earlier beating Spain 22-12, with Dan Caprice (2), Dan Norton and captain Ben Gollings all scoring in the victory.
Looking to put the disappointment of winning the Shield in their home tournament last weekend behind them, England also ensured lightning didn't strike twice against Portugal having lost to them for the first time at the 2010 Dubai Sevens, winning 24-5 thanks to tries from Norton, John Brake, James Rodwell and Oliver Lindsay-Hague.
In the penultimate Pool B match Spain beat Iberian rivals Portugal for the first time in the World Series, winning 7-5 and recording victory at the sixth attempt thanks to Javier Canosa's try.
Pool C: RSA, AUS, CAN, KEN
London Sevens Cup winners South Africa topped Pool C after a 19-5 victory against Australia. Paul Treu's side have never won the tournament in Murrayfield but tries from Cecil Afrika, Paul Delport and William Small-Smith ensured they maintained their 100% record on day one.
Earlier, Afrika scored his 37th try of the season and Small-Smith his first in the World Series as they secured a 32-5 victory against Geraint John's Canada before five different players scored one try apiece in a 31-14 defeat of Kenya.
Michael O'Connor's side will join them in the Cup quarter finals and face Fiji having scored six tries against Canada, Lewis Holland crossing twice.
Earlier, Jonathon Lance helped them come from 7-0 behind to beat Kenya 14-7 in the final minute. Collins Injera had given Benjamin Ayimba's side the lead but Greg Jeloudev and Lance snatched the victory.
In the penultimate Pool C match, Kenya beat Canada 38-5, with Injera scoring a hat-trick and his brother, captain Humphrey Kayange, also scoring and they face USA in the Bowl quarter finals.
Pool D: SAM, FIJ, USA, SCO
Fiji recovered from their 14-12 defeat to hosts Scotland to secure their place in the Cup quarter finals after beating Pacific rivals Samoa, 21-7.
The hosts fell just short of joining them in the Cup quarter finals after their 45-7 victory against USA left them two tantalising points short on points difference.
Earlier, however, the hosts gave the crowd something to cheer as they kept up their incredible 100% record at Murrayfield against Fiji, defeating the London Sevens Cup runners-up 14-12. David Batiratu and Watisoni Votu had given the Pacific Islanders a 12-0 lead at half time but captain Scott Riddell and Lee Jones sent the crowd wild.
The defending Edinburgh Sevens champions, Samoa, got the defence of their title off to a winning start, beating USA 21-12 before a 33-10 victory against Scotland. Alatasi Tupou, Ofisa Treviranus and Afa Aiono all scoring for Stephen Betham's side in both matches before their defeat to Fiji and will face South Africa in the Cup quarter finals.
Fiji had recorded their first victory of the day against USA, winning 21-14 thanks to tries from Livai Ikanikoda, Watisoni Votu and Mitieli Nacagilevu.
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