So it all comes down to this weekend’s final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Edinburgh. Samoa just need to make the final to win their first-ever Series and they hold a seven point advantage from New Zealand.

I think last weekend Samoa confirmed they have still got it in them to win their first overall World Series. Australia were of course the winners but it the Pacific Islanders still made it to a Cup semi-final that gained them key points in the log.

And importantly it was another win for them against New Zealand at Twickenham in the last-eight. That is six consecutive wins against their nearest rivals this season. The only team the Kiwis have lost to this year! UR7s' feature this week looks back on some outstanding matches between the pair this year.

I love the fact that it has all come down to one tournament. It could be a thrilling finish but it is Samoa’s to lose.
If it is those two again meeting at Murrayfield, why should I bet against Samoa? But let us reflect on the London Sevens winners Australia, who beat South Africa in a brilliant final.

It’s another winner and it adds another name to the equation, which is why sevens is so captivating.

Every event there is realistically six or so teams in with a shout. The likes of Kenya and USA who have qualified for the latter stages of other tournaments this year, couldn’t even make the Cup this time around.

Smart Australia deserve win

I was delighted it was Australia. This young side, except really James Stannard, with an average age of 21. I actually didn’t think they would do it this time. They have lost six of their key players to the Junior World Championships. Yet Michael O’Connor has bought in a back-up squad who looked totally at home, skilful, incredibly fit, and completely determined.

Saying that they have all been involved in the wider training squad and were familiar with the set-up and it paid dividends. O’Connor was probably aware he would lose players for the European stretch and he coped magnificently.

It was masterminded by James Stannard helped enormously by Henry Vanderglass and Brackin Karauria-Henry. They were the outstanding trio. Even when they lost their speedster Clinton Sills in the final, they were still awesome. They played the best sevens of any.

They have done really well this season, improving all the time and remember they have won the Plate three times this season, beating South Africa each time those finals, so it was ironic the two should meet in the major final at Twickenham. They are now third equal with Fiji in the rankings, a truly terrific development.

The return of Fabian Juries to South Africa and his performances in the semi-finals and finals were a pleasant surprise. He was a player I have adored watching and still do. But he is 31 years of age and has been out of sevens for a couple of years. He has hardly any practice and comes into the squad at the last minute but still showed his class.

He was very well marshalled by coach Paul Treu who bought him off the bench at key times and he made an impact. Some people don’t lose it; the magic was there, the brilliant skills.

Breakthrough for Twickenham despite England woes

Defending champions England fell by the wayside and who knows it just seems they didn’t recover from the loss of Ollie Phillips. He was taken from the squad by Stade Francais a day before in unfortunate and I thought unfair circumstances. Defensive and organisational lapses seemed to let them down, not skill.

Phillips brings that organisation, like a James Stannard or a Tomasi Cama. It perhaps didn’t go that well for guys coming back into the team and you just feel they miss the likes of Damu and Cracknell.

As far as the London Sevens goes it was almost a breakthrough time. Especially seeing how many people were here on the first day. Gone our days when only 19,000 or so would make it. I thought they should have hosted it somewhere else in the early days, built it up and then moved it to Twickenham. 

But the atmosphere was electric at times last weekend. Like last year people will leave here going back saying what a great day they had, so the growth could be there again for next year. The fantastic weather helps!
But for now thoughts turn to Edinburgh and whether Samoa can hold their nerve?