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Fiji 21-15 Australia: World champions win Las Vegas Sevens final

Kitione Taliga of Fiji
Image: Kitione Taliga of Fiji

Reigning World Series champions Fiji fought back from a 15-0 half-time deficit to beat Australia 21-15 in the final of the Las Vegas Sevens.

Their second tournament win of the season came about with a scintillating display of counter-attacking rugby and sent Fiji clear at the top of the series standings.

On a blustery day at Sam Boyd Stadium, Australia dominated territorially right from the start and Sam Myers capped off a wave of attacks when he crossed the line from the left to put his team in front.

Fiji were left short-handed after a dangerous tip tackle and the Wallabies took full advantage as first Ed Jenkins powered down the left wing to score and then Cameron Clark cut through to follow suit to establish a half-time lead of 15-0.

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Fiji scored this incredible try in the cup semi-final of the Vegas Sevens

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Playing into the wind, the Fijians finally put points on the board when Kitione Taliga, off the bench, ran the entire length of the field to score under the posts.

As the Fijians built much-needed momentum, Teliga scored again after another brilliant counter-attack to reduce the deficit to 15-14.

Australia seemed set for another score soon after but Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper lost possession just short of the try line and Fiji were once again ruthless on the counter attack as Savenaca Rawaca stormed down the right to make it 21-15.

Fiji had earlier overcame hosts the United States 21-14 in the first semi-final, before Australia beat three-time USA Sevens champions South Africa 14-12 in a see-sawing encounter.

South Africa, who paid a steep price for some bruising play against Australia in the last four, outclassed the US 21-10 in the third-place playoff.

Fiji lead the series with 91 points, five points clear of South Africa with New Zealand third on 82 after the fifth stop on the 10-tournament circuit.

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