Celebration time at Murrayfield after New Zealand comprehensively defeated Samoa to claim the world sevens trophy. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand pulled off the improbable yesterday to regain the mantle of the world's premier sevens nation.
Their seventh world title in eight years ranks as arguably the finest achievement in the long and successful career of coach Gordon Tietjens.
"It is quite unbelievable really. We did not
really give ourselves a chance beforehand," Tietjens said.
New Zealand began the last fortnight of the series needing to win the London and Edinburgh legs of the circuit to haul in Fiji, who appeared on course to retain the title.
New Zealand won the London tournament a week ago but headed to Edinburgh without any realistic hopes since Fiji could wrap up the title by simply progressing to the semifinals.
The classic unpredictability of sevens handed Tietjens' team a lifeline when Fiji were spectacularly eliminated 21-14 by Wales in the quarter-finals.
That left New Zealand needing to win the final to pip Fiji in the overall standings, which they achieved by caning Samoa 34-5 in the decider after dispatching South Africa 19-12 in the quarter-finals and Wales 28-0 in the semifinals.
Tietjens was still pinching himself minutes after the final.
"Geez, it's just quite magnificent really. We trailed all year. A good tournament in London lifted us to second, and to come here and win it, plus the world series, is just out of this world."
New Zealand ended the competition on 130 points, two ahead of Fiji and eight clear of third-placed Samoa.
Tietjens said the team's success was borne of their failure in 2006 when they slumped to fourth on the circuit standings.
"We were disappointed last year but we had such a new, young team and you can't go out to the shop and buy experience," Tietjens said.
"We had one year to gather ourselves and get that experience. The players got that by losing tournaments. Ninety per cent of those players are back here now holding aloft the world series trophy."
- NZPA
