KEY POINTS:
Fiji again played the role of party poopers at the IRB sevens but Samoa gatecrashed the party with a stunning 17-14 upset victory in the Wellington tournament last night.
Fiji whitewashed an outclassed New Zealand 31-0 in the semifinals and looked almost certain to become the second team
to win the Wellington tournament three times, alongside New Zealand.
But a bruising and intense final saw Samoa jolt the confident Fijians with a try in each half and a wonderful dropped goal to set up a famous victory - thought to be Samoa's first win in an IRB sevens tournament.
In fact, it was their third appearance in a final in recent times, losing 54-15 to Fiji in the final of the London tournament and 33-12 to South Africa in Paris last year.
Their win in Wellington last night confirmed the rise of Samoan sevens, with a clever game plan knocking the formerly majestic Fijians off their stride and dimmed the undoubted star of the tournament, Fiji's William Ryder.
The Samoans won by taking their chances on attack and defending like men possessed, with some heavy tackles raining in from both sides but particularly from the men in blue - with the added piece of brilliance with Lolo Lui's dropped goal which took Samoa to an unbeatable 17-0 lead.
Lui also kicked two conversions after tries to Mikaele Pesamino and Ofisa Trevarinus. Fiji hit back with late tries to Setefano Cakalinivali and Nasoni Rokobiau but there was not enough time left to bridge the gap created by Lui's dropped goal.
As the Fijians scored their second try right at the death, the lights failed - but the Samoans had turned off the lights for the Fijians long before the stadium lights conked out.
In the semifinals, it was shades of last year's meeting at the same stage between the two great sevens foes. Fiji were a class above the hosts, dominating the physical exchanges and having a clear edge in speed around the field.
It was the biggest winning margin against a New Zealand sevens team since Fiji beat them 43-14 in 2005 and 45-0 in 2001. The result was satisfying for the Fijians, who lost to New Zealand in the semifinals of the first two IRB tournaments in December.
It was clear that was never going to happen yesterday, as the visitors scorched over for five unanswered tries and rarely looking like conceding a try to a New Zealand side who struggled to get possession.
"It was an outstanding performance by Fiji. I haven't seen them play like that for a long time," New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said.
"They played with a lot of hunger and passion out there. It was an error-free game, just about."
The elusive Lepani Nabuliwaqa opened the scoring for Fiji with a try after three minutes, ducking under the tackle of Afeleke Pelenise.
Just as the hosts looked to be getting into the game, Ryder broke their hearts 20 seconds from halftime with an audacious chip and chase from a scrum inside his own half, outpacing Edwin Cocker with a searing burst to score under the crossbar.
Some more acceleration and sleight of hand from Ryder just after halftime sent Simione Saravanua over for an unassailable 19-0 lead.
Emosi Vucago registered the fourth try with a bump-off of the much bigger Pelenise before giant forward Setefano Cakalinivalli galloped over on the fulltime hooter.
New Zealand's chances weren't helped by fielding two key players - Nigel Hunt and Zar Lawrence - carrying leg niggles into the game. They both limped from the field late in the quarter-final against England.
Forward DJ Forbes was also missing yesterday, having been sidelined since injuring his shoulder in Friday's first pool game against Kenya.
However, the teams carried contrasting form into the game. New Zealand struggled for their best form in pool play and limped to a 14-7 win over England in yesterday's quarter-final, with a try midway through the second half by captain Tafai Ioasa proving the difference.
By contrast, Fiji romped past Canada 60-0 to follow some imperious displays yesterday.
The semifinal result meant Fiji faced Samoa in an all-Pacific Island final after the Samoans clung on in another surprise to beat South Africa 14-12 in the second semifinal.
Earlier, the Samoan side needed a last-ditch try to quell Kenya 26-21 in their quarter-final.
Samoa 17
(Mikaele Pesamino, Ofisa Trevarinus tries; Lolo Lui pen, 2 con)
Fiji 14
(Setefano Cakalinivalli, Nasoni Rokobiau tries; William Ryder con, Rokobiau con).
