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New Zealand's Zar Lawrence - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand have cruised to a second comfortable pool win on an emotion-tinged second day of the Hong Kong sevens rugby tournament, scorching Zimbabwe 52-0.
The win follows yesterday's equally-dominant 59-0 opening defeat of Sri Lanka, providing coach Gordon Tietjens' men two early chances to stretch their legs before the standard of opposition improves at the International Rugby Board world series event.
In a display of raw courage, veteran New Zealander Zar Lawrence took to the field after having learned of the death of his younger brother Wiremu in a car accident in New Zealand overnight.
Lawrence, who wore an armband wearing his brother's name, has vowed to complete the tournament before flying home for the tangi.
Their final pool match tonight (11.15pm NZT) was to be against unbeaten Australia, who downed Sri Lanka 56-12 earlier on Saturday.
New Zealand scored four tries in each half against the hapless Zimbabweans.
Four players scored two each -- Victor Vito, Ben Souness, Julian Savea and Tim Mikkelson.
Surprises have been absent through the opening two rounds of matches, with big guns South Africa, England, Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Kenya, France and World Cup champions Wales all unbeaten.
