Mikaele Pesamino Express about to take off

So the Dubai Sevens is over and it didn’t disappoint. Perhaps it didn’t quite live up to the thrills and spills we saw earlier this year at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March at The Sevens, but that is not to say this weekend’s event was any less entertaining.

In March, the four favourites got knocked out in the quarter-finals, meaning four different continents were represented in the semis and whilst this weekend saw just two continents represented, perhaps the biggest absentee was indeed the holders South Africa.

Personally I was very impressed with Samoa. Their build up to the tournament hadn’t quite been as seamless as some of the other ‘big’ sides, but to beat England at The Sevens (again) with an opening three minutes that blew their opposition out of the water certainly deserves credit.

In Lolo Lui and Mikaele Pesamino they have two match winners, and coach Stephen Betham could provide the tactical nous that has often been missing with the Pacific Islanders. In fact if the Samoan’s can continue to perform like this, then Fiji may have some competition as the top team from the South Sea Islands – evident from the day one 12-12 between the two sides.

What better way to demonstrate this was not just a one off, however, when they meet New Zealand again in Pool D this weekend in George. If they continue to begin matches the way they did in Dubai, taking the lead against New Zealand in the final included, then Samoa could be the most improved team this year.

Results:

Pool Games - Samoa 40, Zimbabwe 5; Samoa 36, Scotland 7; Samoa 12, Fiji 12; cup QF Samoa 28, Australia 27; cup SF Samoa 28, England 19; cup Final Samoa 12, New Zealand 24

Samoa squad: Simaika Mikaele, Afa Aiono, Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Jerry Meafou, Pale Toelupe, Paul Chan Tung, Lolo Lui, Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Timoteo Iosua, Fautua Otto, Taupo Sefo

Reupena Levasa creating space midfield against Fiji

Simaika Mikaele scores against England