9.15am
DUBAI - New Zealand emphatically retained their Dubai rugby Sevens title with a crushing 36-0 win over Samoa in today's final.
The defending champions scored six tries and led 12-0 at half-time. The win is New Zealand's fourth in a row in Dubai and the perfect start to the defence of
the IRB World Sevens series.
Liam Messam, 18, crossed for two tries and turned in a brilliant performance belying his inexperience.
The Samoans began strongly but were unable to penetrate a brilliant New Zealand defence and were forced into numerous errors.
New Zealand playmaker Amasio Valence set Messam up for his first try in the third minute and the Samoans missed two good opportunities to bounce back, unable to cross the try line.
New Zealand struck a decisive blow just before half-time when another new sevens stars, Roy Kinikinilau, scored in the corner after beating a couple of flimsy Samoan tackles.
Kinikinilau has the physique and power of Jonah Lomu and looks to have a big future in the game.
The Samoans lost their shape and patter when playmaker Mark Tanuvasa left the field late in the first spell with a leg injury. New Zealand then scored twice in two minutes at the start of the second half to kill off Samoa's hopes.
Captain Damian Karauna pounced on a Samoan mistake to score and extend the lead to 19-0. He then showed brilliant hands to gather a looping Kinikinilau pass to score again and put the result byond doubt with six minutes remaining.
Further tries followed to Messam and replacement Tafai Ioasa to complete a brillant win and avenge the 19-17 loss to Samoa in pool play.
North Harbour's Anthony Tuitivake was named player of the tournament. He scored a hat-trick in the 38-7 semi-final win over Australia.
New Zealand had started day two with an impressive 19-7 win over a powerful England side.
The result means New Zealand leads the IRB sevens table with 20 points. Samoa has 16, Australia 12 and South Africa 12. The next round is in South Africa on December 13-14.
Result: New Zealand: 36 (Liam Messam 2, Damian Karauna 2, Tafai Ioasa, Roy Kinikinilau tries; Amasio Valence 3 con) Samoa 0.
- NZPA
