THE smile was back on the faces of crowd favourites Fiji after they overcome a tight final with South Africa to win the HSBC Sydney Sevens for the first time.
Fiji came out on top against South Africa for the second time in eight days, although this time their prize was not ninth place but a first HSBC Sydney Sevens title.
Both teams had been determined to bounce back from that disappointment in Hamilton and served up a Cup final every bit as thrilling as their last meeting in Singapore when Fiji had led 19-0 at half-time only for South Africa to storm back and triumph 21-19.
Fiji nearly had the dream start in their first Cup final of the season, but JC Pretorius and Selvyn Davids managed to hold Meli Derenalagi over the line.
It would only be a temporary respite, though, because as the rain began to fall again the ball skewed out the side of a breakdown and Napolioni Bolaca reacted quickest to score the opening try.
A barnstorming run from Zain Davids created the momentum for Pretorius to score with Fiji suffering a double blow with Josua Vakurunabili yellow carded for a tackle earlier in the move.
Fiji managed to hold out in his absence and then increased their advantage when a powerful hand-off from Bolaca gave him the space to run-in his second of the final.
Zain Davids crossed for South Africa midway through the second half but his namesake Selvyn was unable to add the conversion, leaving the Dubai champions trailing by two points.
They were unable to find another score, Fiji and their huge contingent of fans in the crowd able to celebrate after South Africa knocked on in their own 22 with the final play.
Fiji captain Derenalagi said: “First of all I would like to thank the Almighty Lord for giving us the strength and the power to come and deliver what we have been planning.”
“Before we entered the field the message I told my team was just to go out there, enjoy it and do the job. We delivered that and I want to thank the soldiers behind me for that great effort you saw here today.
“Shout out to all the fans here in Sydney for coming out in numbers and for supporting your national
team – this win is for you too.”
New Zealand still the lead the standings with 76 points after four of the 10 rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020, although now only by nine from South Africa.
France are third on 56 points, just ahead of England (54) and Sydney champions Fiji (53).
The next round sees the teams head to a new stop in Los Angeles, home of the 2028 Olympic
Games, at Dignity Health Sports Park from 29 February-1 March.
USA wins bronze A sub plot to the bronze final, delayed by more than 30 minutes due lightning in the area, was whether Perry Baker or Carlin Isles would become the USA player to score 200 series tries, the former drawing level by running in the opening try before captain Ben Pinkelman and Naima Fuala’au made it 17-0 before Will Hendy scored with the final play of the first half.
USA lost Stephen Tomasin to the sin-bin but his team-mates held firm in his absence and then just as it appeared that Isles was set for try 200 Dan Norton caught and hauled him into touch.
Instead it was England who had the final say to win 17-10.
Earlier in the first semi-final, South Africa edged a titanic battle with USA to preserve their record of never having lost to their opponents at this stage.
Pretorius sprinted down the touchline for the opening try after 23 seconds, but USA hit back and Pinkelman’s try looked like giving them the half-time lead until Selvyn Davids tied it at 12-12 with a late score.
With the rain beginning to fall in Sydney, the score remained that way until midway through the second half when South Africa captain Stedman Gans burst through for what proved to be winner with the Sevens Eagles unable to find the score to force sudden-death extra-time.
With every Fijian pass, run and tackle cheered by their vocal fans braving the pouring rain, the Olympic champions struck the first blow through Bolaca but would probably have hoped for more having had plenty of ball in England’s half in the first half.
A second try did come barely a minute into the second half through Waisea Nacuqu and he was followed over the line by World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year Jerry Tuwai for a 17-0 lead.
England gave themselves a lifeline when Norton chased his own kick and while he failed to ground after being pushed by Alasio Naduva, a penalty try was awarded and the Fijian yellow-carded.
England sensed their opportunity and captain Tom Mitchell sprinted away for their second, adding the conversion from the sideline to cut the deficit to three with time up.
Fiji knocked on from the restart but the ball went safely into touch and they could celebrate a first final of the season.
