A magic moment for Samoa sport

SAMOA – Samoa staged a stunning comeback at the weekend to beat Fiji 29-26 in the cup final to win the Paris Sevens. It’s the first tournament victory for the Manu since Dubai in 2012 and reverses a 42-5 hiding suffered at the hands of their Pacific rivals in pool play a day earlier.

Head coach Damian McGrath was full of praise for his players.

“We’ve proved that over the last two or three tournaments that we can make the quarter finals and we’ve shown today, when our self-belief and resolve is right, we can match it with anybody – and to beat Fiji, after the way they beat us, was a really satisfying thing,” McGrath said

He said the ultimate goal remained next month’s Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco.

Samoa have risen one place to eight on the overall standings.

Despite missing out on the silverware, Fiji’s runners-up finish extended their overall series lead to 14 points with one round remaining.

A quarter final berth in London this weekend will be enough for the Fiji side to defend their crown.

- PNC