New Zealand won rugby's Edinburgh Sevens and the world series championship after front-runners Fiji were stunningly ousted by Wales in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
New Zealand thrashed Samoa 34-5 in the final at Murrayfield, and ended up edging Fiji by two points for their seventh overall title in eight series.
Fiji entered the season's last tournament with a 10-point lead, and needed only to reach the semi-finals to retain the world title.
Photo: AFP
But after cruising through their pool on Saturday, Fiji were shaded by Wales in their quarter-final. They were 7-7 at halftime, and Wales went ahead again in the second half through tries by Tal Selley and Wayne Evans. Fiji closed to 21-14 with a try by Mesake Davu and appeared to have a chance of drawing level in the final moments but Semisi Naevo's try was ruled out because he knocked on.
Fiji ended up with silverware by winning the second-tier Plate final, but it marked their worst result of the season.
"Quite unbelievable really," New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said. "Coming into the last tournament we didn't really give ourselves a chance."
"Good things happened for us with Wales beating Fiji, and going into the Samoa game we knew we had to win it for the series. That's how close it was, what a great world series," he said.
New Zealand, with their third win in eight tournaments, ended with 130 points, and two-time winners Fiji on 128 and Samoa on 122. It was Samoa's highest finish.
South Africa, winner of the series opener in Dubai, were fourth with 92.
Samoa captain Uale Mai was suspended from the final for elbowing an opponent in the 24-14 semi-final win over Argentina.
New Zealand took advantage with two Adam Thompson tries and a brace by captain DJ Forbes straddling halftime. New Zealand led 24-5 by halftime and effectively sealed the result. Fautua Otto earned Samoa's try.
Tomasi Cama and Afeleke Pelenise also touched down to hand coach Tietjens his seventh world series.
New Zealand beat South Africa 19-12 in a physical quarter-final and overwhelmed Wales 28-0 in the semi-finals.
England won the Bowl and France the Shield.
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