Australia have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens after finishing second in their pool after going down 17-5 to New Zealand.

"We dominated the first half but didn't come up with enough points," said coach Michael O'Connor.

"It was five points all at half-time but in the second half we just found it difficult to get possession and there just some crucial plays which went against us."

On Friday Australia defeated Zimbabwe 33-5 and on Saturday they beat Sri Lanka 56-12 and look set to play England in the Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

England are currently tied with South Africa on 60 points at the top of the IRB Sevens World Series ladder.

New Zealand's Zar Lawrence steered the defending champions to victory over Australia despite learning of his teenage brother's tragic death only hours before.

Lawrence scored twice, including a mazy 50-yarder, to put his team into the quarter-finals.

Afterwards he revealed the 4:00 am phone call in which he was told his brother Wirenu, 16, had died in a car crash.

"It's very hard. It's all emotional at the moment," Lawrence said.

"But my thoughts are back with my family and theirs are with me. I'm doing this for my family."

Lawrence, 27, said his family had told him to play on at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens as a tribute to his brother. He will fly home on Sunday or Monday.

"My thoughts are back there but my family told me to stay here and do it for him," he said. "That's what I'm doing. I'm trying to play my best for my little brother."

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