The All Blacks set up a quarter-final clash with defending champions Wales after surviving a scare against the United States on the second day of action in the Rugby World Cup Sevens on Saturday.

South Africa, fired by exciting youngster Cheslin Kolbe and veteran Cecil Afrika, finished atop the seedings for the knock-out phase, a system unique to the World Cup based on points difference.

The South Africans blanked Japan (33-0) and Scotland (41-0), with no points against over the opening two days, and will now meet Fiji, who finished as one of the two best-placed runners-up behind Wales in Pool E.

Second-seeded Kenya, who hammered the Philippines 45-5 and Zimbabwe 31-5, will play France, for whom outstanding scrum-half Terry Bouhraoua took a drop-kick penalty to tie the scores at 17-17 against Pool A toppers Australia to qualify as the best runner-up.

England will play Australia in the last quarter-final on Sunday.

New Zealand had seen off Georgia 26-7 in the morning’s pool play in stifling conditions with temperature hovering around 33 degrees and high humidity, but met stiffer resistance from the United States.

Sherwin Stowers got the All Blacks off the mark, but his early try was cancelled out by Nick Edwards’ fine solo effort and Matt Hawkins’ touchdown a minute later.

Edwards crossed for a second from the kick-off for a shock 19-5 lead, but the Americans then conceded a penalty try, with Tim Mikkelson and David Raikuna also both scoring late on to wrap the match up at 26-19.

“The US played particularly well, and you can’t play without the ball in this game – we didn’t get any and when we did we made some uncharacteristic mistakes,” said All Blacks coach Gordon Tietjens.

“The guys are hurt, they like to pride themselves on good performances and we didn’t put in one of those.”

Defending champs Wales pulled off a last-gasp victory over Fiji in their pool, but their small points differential saw them aligned with the All Blacks in the quarters as reward.

Samoa, the most experienced team in competition, and 2009 runners-up Argentina were the biggest losers on the day, and will have to make do with a spot in the second-tier competition.

In the women’s competition, defending champions Australia posted easy wins against China (36-0), Ireland (22-5) and South Africa (29-0).

Arch-rivals New Zealand beat Tunisia (36-0), the Netherlands (41-0) and Canada (20-5) in similarly dominant fashion.