Fiji win Sevens World Series as USA enjoy breakthrough success

Fiji won the Sevens World Series on Sunday as the United States enjoyed a breakthrough success by taking the London Sevens title -- the first time they'd come out on top in a Sevens Cup final.

The Fijians, long renowned for their skills in the abbreviated form of the game, came into the concluding London leg of this season's championship with 147 points in the overall standings, with South Africa second on 142.

After the teams won through on Saturday's opening day at Twickenham to face each other in the quarter-finals, that meant a Fijian victory over the Blitzboks on Sunday would secure the overall title for the Pacific Islanders.

Savenaca Rawaca scored two tries and captain Osea Kolinisau also crossed South Africa's line as Fiji posted a 19-7 victory that gave them their second World Series title and first since 2006.

Their success also made Fiji the first country other than New Zealand to win the Sevens World Series since 2010.   

"Thank you very much for supporting the team," Kolinisau told the World Rugby website. "To be only the second Fijian team to win the title is a great feeling.

"We are really thankful that we have finished the series, it has been a tough journey all along."

- Olympic impact -

 Sevens will make its Olympic debut next year and one of the reasons it has been included is that it is possible for non-traditional rugby nations to upset the odds in a way that rarely happens in the 15-a-side game.

Proof of that came in the London final where the United States overpowered Australia 45-22.

After seeing off North American rivals Canada 29-10 in the last eight, the USA thrashed England 43-12 in the semi-finals, with the sheer speed of Perry Baker and Carlin Isles proving too much for the hosts' defence.  

But there were two Englishmen among a record crowd of 116,219 over the two days who had plenty to smile about -- Fiji coach Ben Ryan and US counterpart Mike Friday, both previously in charge of the England sevens team.

Having seen Danny Barrett score two tries against the Wallabies, in a match where Eagles captain Madison Hughes was also among his side's try-scorers, an elated Friday said: "It is amazing, credit to those boys, the 12 of them have been absolutely fantastic."

For Hughes, just playing at Twickenham, never mind winning the tournament, was the realisation of a childhood dream.

"It is an absolutely incredible feeling, I remember coming to this tournament as a boy watching from the stands hoping that I could play in it some day," he said.
Australia thrashed Fiji 33-7 in the semi-finals but were then undone themselves.

"The cup final was really disappointing," said Australia sevens coach Geraint John.

"God knows how many tackles we missed in that game, but you have to give credit to the USA, they took it to us physically and we just couldn't match that or bring the intensity that we did in the game against Fiji.

"Overall, it was a good tournament but I think we should be winning games like that cup final," added John, whose side finished fifth in the standings and so missed out on automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics.

But the top four of Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and England, on behalf of Great Britain, have all booked their places in Rio, together with hosts Brazil.
Source: AFP