IRB Sevens- Fiji jump for joy in Scotland
Emosi Vucago jumps for Scottish joy. photo Zoomfiji
Nasoni Roko on the attack. photo Zoomfiji
The Fiji Sevens team claim glory in Scotland. photo Zoomfiji
Fiji hang on to win a great final and nab the Edinburgh Sevens title by the slimmest of margins, 20-19.
Fiji's victory at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens takes them above England into second place in the final World Series standings, but a full 30 points behind South Africa.
In a breathless final Emosi Vucago put the Fijians ahead but Ryno Benjamin's converted score edged the Boks ahead 7-5. Pio Tuwai and Osea Kolinisau, though, put the islanders well ahead at the break, 15-7.
In the second half Vereniki Goneva looked to have put the game beyond doubt as Fiji dominated for large periods but Gio Aplon scored and then, at 20-12 down, Renfred Dazel broke free in midfield and raced away to score another. Vuyo Zangqa slotted the conversion to cut the deficit to one point but Fiji held on at the death.
In the lead up to the final Fiji turned around their 33-14 loss against New Zealand in London to beat the same opposition 26-19 in the fourth quarter final in one of the matches of the tournament. Pio Tuwai struck first for Fiji but Save Tokula pulled the game level and Tomasi Cama's conversion edged the kiwis ahead, only for the Fijians to mount a length of the field assault with captain Vereniki Goneva scoring for a 10-7 half time lead. Tuwai scored again straight after the break and then Nasoni Roko put on a skills masterclass to create a superb fourth for Seremaia Burotu for a 26-7 lead. Kurt Baker pulled one back for New Zealand and with a minute remaining Solomon King scored another but the kiwi comeback ran out of time.
The plate was another great trans-Tasman match, eventually NZ powered away, but the Australian team are on the rise and look certain for higher honours next season.
New Zealand finished their season on a positive note under coach Gordon Tietjens by beating trans-Tasman rivals 34-12 to take the Plate, and eight points towards the World Series.
Twice the Aussies led in the first half through Willie Bishop and Dominic Shipperley but on both occasions the kiwis hit back through Willie Rickards and Tim Nanai-Williams to trail just 10-12 at the break. The second half was all about New Zealand, though, Nanai-Williams notching his second and third either side of fine tries for Julian Savea and Chad Tuoro.