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Samoa and New Zealand have met each other at each leg thus far on the 09/10 IRB Sevens World Series.

With just one tournament remaining of the season at Edinburgh, the Samoans hold a seven point lead after now beating their second placed Kiwi counterparts six times in succession.

In what has turned into the most fascinating rivalry on the circuit, we look back at seven classic matches between the pair this season, which have all made for compulsive viewing.

Match 1 – Dubai Sevens, Dec 2009, Cup Final

Samoa steadily worked their way through to Dubai’s final, showing great perseverance to edge Australia by one point in the quarter-finals. But it was New Zealand who flew out the traps in the final playing a confrontational brand of sevens with Forbes and Cama giving them an early lead.

But the spirited Samoans hit back with Levasa and an outstanding Lolo Lui. Top tournament try-scorer Sherwin Stowers’ key break set up a Kurt Baker try that ultimately proved the difference. It was Gordon Tietjens’ side’s first title since Edinburgh 2008 and the celebratory vein popping Haka was back for all to see.

Result: New Zealand 24 Samoa 12

Live Text Dubai Sevens Day 2; As it Happened

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Match 2 – George Sevens, Dec 2009, Pool C:

First real glimpse of the potential of this current Samoan outfit who were drawn with New Zealand in the Pool stages at the South Africa leg. They blazed into a 7-24 lead with superb Pesamino, Fa’osiliva, Levasa scores supplemented by the most casual of 40m drop kicks from from Lolo Lui. New Zealand’s never-say-attitude as always kicks in and they close it to two points courtesy of Stowers, Tokula and Arnold but Samoa holds on and their stranglehold starts.

Result: New Zealand 22 Samoa 24

Live Text George Sevens Day 1; As it Happened

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Match 3 – NZI Sevens, Wellington, Feb 2010, Cup Semi-Final

In the bearpit atmosphere of Wellington’s Westpac Stadium (aka the Cake-Tin) the Islanders tore up the script with a sensational win to knockout the hosts. The returning Uale Mai proving inspirational in running proceedings with a magnificent hat-trick. Then the turning point. As Stowers meanders across the field, Pesamino reads his pass to intercept and send the Kiwis crashing. Amazing drama in the most fun fuelled arena on the IRB Sevens World Series. 

Result: New Zealand 12 Samoa 28

Live Text NZI Sevens Day 2; As it Happened

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Match 4 – USA Sevens, Feb 2010, Cup Final

The Las Vegas final has to be up there as Samoa’s best display of the year. They controlled this match from start to finish with scores from Fa’osiliva, Pesamino (2) and Levasa. Some telegraphed and stray passes from the under-pressure Kiwis gifted the irresistible Mikaele Pesamino two ties with the leggy winger crossing 11 times over the weekend. Mikkelson and Baker with New Zealand’s scores but it was the Samoans who were the talk of Sin City come Sunday.

New Zealand 12 Samoa 33

Live Text USA Sevens Day 2; As it Happened

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Match 5 – Adelaide Sevens, March 2010, Cup Quarter-Final

Three defeats on the trot to Samoa, surely things had to start swaying the way of Gordon Tietjens? Well the Samoans were now on a roll and the Men in Black were on the wrong of the law committing plenty of penalties in a first half that finishes 14-7, with Pesamino and Lui scoring. Plenty of aggro between Baker and Pesamino but it is the former who brings NZ back into the game with a try.

The Kiwis look like they have done enough when Lawrence scores to make 19-14. But Fa’osiliva bundles over at the death to take into extra-time. Baker is binned for ‘verbals’ and the Islanders have the last laugh when Timoteo Iosua makes use of the extra man to grab the winner. Heartbreak for NZ.

Result – New Zealand 19 Samoa 24

Live Text Adelaide Sevens Day 3; As it Happened

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Match 6 – Hong Kong Sevens, March 2010, Cup Final

The third Cup Final between these two of the season and probably the best as far as drama goes. Kurt Baker, off the back of four tries in the semi-finals, is on fire scoring two more early on to give the Kiwis an early 0-14 lead. Mikaele pulls one back but the Kiwis miss an opportunity with Samoa down to six men when Baker himself is binned. Mikaele scores again and it’s on a knife edge – again!

Stamina sapping hits from Samoa characterise the second period paving the way for Pesamino, who looked down and out with cramp earlier, to settle it with two outstanding bits of finishing. Samoa takes the World Series lead for the first time ever as 14 utterly exhausted bodies lay scattered on the turf.

Result – Samoa 24 New Zealand 21

Live Text Hong Kong Sevens Day 3; As it Happened

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Match 7 – London Sevens, May 2010, Cup Quarter-Final

Samoa’s defeat to Argentina in the Pool stages meant yet another match-up with the Kiwis, this time in a mouth-watering quarter-final clash. As seems to be the regular pattern, it is the Kiwis who start the better opening the scoring with Tim Mikkelson. But Pesamino intercepts yet again to give Samoa a 5-7 advantage. Baker replies for a resilient NZ to again nudge Tietjens’ troops ahead.

But Pesamino steals the show, wonderfully jinking in field and teeing up Levasa to restore the lead. Moments a penalty reversal to the Samoans and brilliant continuity produces a try for Trevianus. It is a sixth straight win for the Islanders against New Zealand. 

Result – New Zealand 10 Samoa 19

Live Text London Sevens Day 2; As it Happened