THE Fiji 7s team started its Paris 7s campaign with a loss after Samoa snatched the winning try at the death, Samoa winning 19-17.
The Sir Gordon Tietjens-coached Samoa hung on in the slippery turf trailing the Olympic Games 7s rugby champion most for part of the match and pierced the hearts of Fijians when Eliasapeta Alofipo touched down right under the crossbar for an easy conversion.
The come from behind victory stunned the Vodafone Fiji 7s team which led from the start, halftime and right to the last minute.
The victory was also in similar fashion to last year’s cup final when the Samoa took the title from the Ben Ryan-coached Fijians 29-26.
Samoa fought back from 17-12 down to secure the win with the try in the last minute. Tietjens’ halftime talk to his players to be careful of the slippery ground and deny possession from the sleek Fijian hands paid off.
Find of the season Kalione Nasoko opened the scoring in the second minute when he ran the tramline 75 metres after Jerry Tuwai flipped back a loose ball two metres from the Fijian tryline.
Conversion failed, but Samoa retaliated in the fifth minute of the later spell when Tuwai slipped metres from the try line while trying to tackle Tomasi Olosio.
Fiji 5 – 7 Samoa.
Fiji showed a glimpse of its traditional scissors passing when Tuwai, Vatemo Ravouvou and Sevuloni Mocenacagi combined to see Fiji lead 12-7 at the break.
Vatemo Ravouvou combined again with Tuwai before crossing over for 17-7, but Samoa stole the show in the last minute to score the first upset of the 2017 Paris 7s.
Samoa beat Fiji 19-17.
Australia survived the Russia attack to win 19-12.
In another results New Zealand walloped Wales 26-7.
The tournament continues today.
