Fijiana 15s assistant coach Mosese Rauluni congratulated the Fiji 7s team for winning the Melrose Cup in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday.
After 17 years the trophy comes home for the third time Fiji is now the double Olympic Games champion and world title holder. Fiji defeated New Zealand 29-12 in the final in South Africa.
Rauluni said watching them play was outstanding.
“The workrate that the boys showed against New Zealand was outstanding,” he said.
“Even with five people on the field, it looked like they had eight. They were working hard for each other, they lost their captain in the early doors, they still worked hard and scored that late try to seal the win.
“It’s a great win and its great to have the World Cup Sevens trophy back in Fiji.”
Fiji came fighting in an impressive fashion, grabbing two tries to Joseva Talacolo and Kaminieli Rasaku in the first couple of minutes.
The New Zealanders repaid the compliment with a five-pointer to Moses Leo. Elia Canakaivata and Filipe Sauturaga added another two tries on halftime to give Fiji a 24-5 lead.
Akuila Rokolisoa scored a try to keep New Zealand’s hopes high.
NZ coach Clark Laidlaw paid tribute to Fiji’s risilience.
“When you play Fiji, they’re too good, but it felt like we gave them easy access in the first half and then, after that it was a pretty even game,” he said after the final We also won the title in 1997 and 2005.
