Samoa Observer: Everyone loves a winner. We can’t say the same about losers but in the case of the Manu Samoa in the final of the Wellington Sevens, we should at least be proud of them.

Sevens rugby is a cruel sport with winners often determined by the bounce of the oval ball. On Friday night, it bounced Fiji’s way. Being good sports as we should be, we say well done Fiji.

But we’ll never stop wondering what might have been if a couple of calls had gone our way.

For example, would the result have remained the same had Reupena Levasa’s try been given (see picture above)? Television replays clearly showed the final throw to Levasa was a line pass. We had other opportunities.

Another controversial moment was the winning try for Fiji scored by Osea Kolinisau. The replay and a photo on our front page today again showed the ball was not grounded properly. The try therefore should have been disallowed.

We were so close, excruciatingly so. Had that last pass found a pair of hands, a try under the sticks would have been the clincher.
The questions will never stop. The if onlys and what ifs will also continue.

Disappointed as we all are, however, there is reason to be proud of our Manu Samoa Sevens. The team, from coach Stephen Betham to his captain Lolo Lui, can hold their heads high knowing they gave everything.

And what about Uale Mai? How valuable was his contribution?
As this column said on Friday, no one gave Samoa a chance. Samoa was not part of the Wellington final script.

But Mai stepped up against New Zealand, showed his class and ripped up the script. The semi-final drubbing of the Kiwis was sweet. It was a game won up front with the brilliance of a diminutive General who had a quiet tournament until then.

There was another impressive aspect we hope the team continues to develop. Unlike teams of previous years who give us as soon as they are behind on the scoreboard, the Wellington bunch did not.

Since day one, they had to play catch up rugby, come from behind to win. They could have easily thrown in the tower when Kenya was ahead 14-0 during the quarterfinal.

When New Zealand led 7-5 in the semifinal, Samoan teams in the past would have probably thought that was it.
But not these boys. Mental toughness is needed. It appears it’s an area that’s being developed fervently by the new management.

While several changes have been made to the coaching staff during the past few years, the core members of the squad have been kept. And it’s starting to pay off. With more regular tournaments, the players are proving what we’ve known for many years – that regular exposure to top level competitions can only be good.

Three legs into the IRB Sevens season, Betham has coached us into two finals. Not a bad achievement. Let’s hope they can go one better this week in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, we want to say well done to the team. Ua pati taoto le Fe’epo e ui ina le’i fa’amanuiaina le taumafaiga. Malo le loto nu’u, malo le toa, malo le tau!
Have a blessed Sunday Samoa!

09 February, 2010