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Fiji end 15-year wait for Dubai Sevens title

Pacific Islanders blitz New Zealand in the semi-finals and South Africa in the final

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Fiji's Emosi Mulevoro heads for the try line in the matchup against South Africa in the final of the Dubai Sevens. Photo: Reuters

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Fiji won their first Dubai Sevens rugby title since 1998 by blitzing last season’s two best teams, New Zealand in the semi-finals and South Africa in the final on Saturday.

Fiji gave New Zealand, the World Cup and world series champion and winner of the first leg at Gold Coast, their heaviest defeat in the series’ 15-year history by 44-0 then proceeded to score four tries in the final before South Africa replied.

The Fijians comfortably won 29-17 to give Ben Ryan his first success as their new coach.

“I had to keep them level-headed after the semi but I didn’t need to do anything,” Ryan, the former England coach, said. “They were humble and ready to go. We were in control. We have amazing talent on the island and this is the start for us.”

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Fiji’s sevens talent has been far less of a doubt than their consistency. They have won the series only once, in 2006, and started this series with a quarter-final loss in Gold Coast.

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