Fiji fails again in Dubai 7s
The Iliesa Tanivula coached side did not find their early form and strugguled to hold off a strong New Zealand outfit led by captain DJ Forbes, Zar Lawrence, Lote Raikabula and Tomasi Cama Jnr.
Zar Lawrence was in outstanding form against Fiji scoring two tries and also exposing William Ryder's weakness in defence on both occassion.
Fiji also did not do well in set piece where they lost 3 of their own scrum and also missed alot of tackles.
Meanwhile the Kiwis have kicked their 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series campaign off to the perfect start by beating Samoa 24-12 in a superb final.
In doing so they win their first IRB Sevens event in 18 months to take an early lead in the new World Series with 24 points, ahead of Samoa (20), England and Fiji (16 apiece). Reigning World Series champions South Africa kicked their season off in disappointing fashion, beaten by a superb performance from young Australia in the final of the Plate.
Captain DJ Forbes says that the side main weapon in winning the Dubai 7's was the outstanding defence which they showed throughout the tournament.
Earlier, in a breathless hour and a half of more thrilling Rugby Sevens Fiji, New Zealand, England and Samoa had won through to the semis, at the expense of defending champions South Africa, Kenya, Argentina and Australia.
The Fijians came through against the World Series champions to play New Zealand after they came from behind to edge Kenya at the death.
England needed sudden death extra time to beat Argentina, to the delight of the expat crowd, before Lolo Lui capped a remarkable sequence of matches by landing a fine conversion from the touchline to give Samoa a one-point victory against Australia.
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