The All Blacks Sevens team beat Olympic champions Fiji 28-21 in the final of the Los Angeles rugby sevens tournament on Monday; immediately after Australia clinched its first World Series title, a championship decided in the penultimate match of a season which began nine months ago.
Moses Leo scored the match-winner for New Zealand with a minute remaining to decide a thriller. Fiji and New Zealand had met in 28 previous World Series tournament finals and had 14 wins each until New Zealand edged ahead Sunday.
After conceding the opening try to Kaminieli Rasaku, New Zealand equalised with a penalty try for Fiji captain Waisea Nacuqu's no-arms tackle. New Zealand went ahead with a try to Regan Ware but Nacuqu made amends for his earlier infringement with a try to make it 14-14 at halftime.
Tone Ng Shiu gave New Zealand a 21-14 lead early in the second half before Fiji levelled the scores again through Filipe Sauturaga. Leo sealed it for New Zealand with his try a minute before the final whistle.
"We knew it was going to be a tough match, especially because everywhere we go it seems to be a home crowd for Fiji," New Zealand captain Sione Malia said. "We needed to be clinical and I think the boys did that."