Fijians hold on for sevens success
RUGBY UNION: Fiji defeated Samoa 31-24 in final of the Gold Coast Sevens to win round one of the HSBC Sevens World Series and take an early lead in the race for Olympic qualification.
Setefano Cakau scored two tries in the first half before Apisai Domolaili and Semi Kunatani saw the Fijians take a 26-0 lead.
Samoa’s Fautua Otto scored just before half-time before Lolo Lui, Siaosi Asofolau and Tila Mealoi narrowed the gap to just two points with four minutes to go.
However, Fiji managed to cement their win when Jasa Veremalua crossed the line.
The points won in this year’s IRB World Series will count towards Olympic qualification, with the top four countries in the overall series automatically heading for Rio.
Earlier England, which finished the tournament third after two Dan Norton tries secured a 19-0 win over South Africa, recorded its best victory over New Zealand since 2003 as it recorded a 31-7 win against the defending HSBC Sevens World Series and Gold Coast Sevens champions before being knocked out by Fiji in the semis.
Australia followed the Kiwis out at the quarterfinal stage after Cameron Clark missed a conversion after the full-time siren as the Thunderbolts lost to South Africa 12-10.
The South Africans had come back to hold a 12-5 lead when Con Foley dived over with time up on the clock but Clark missed the chance to send the quarterfinal into extra-time.
The Aussies then lost 21-17 to Argentina in the plate semi-final.
New Zealand won the plate final with a 36-21 win over the South Americans.