Manu Samoa have made the 9th place final in Hong Kong after a down-to-the-last minute battle with Pacific neighbours Australia.
Tuna Tuitama continues his form to add early points for Samoa in the first minute.
Vaafauese Apelu-Maliko added two tries to take his season tally to 31 – placing him first equal with New Zealand’s Akuila Rokolisoa.
Samoa now face Ireland in the 9th place play-off with hopes to secure the maximum 8 points in the race for 4th place and automatically qualify for the Olympics.
Samoa is currently ranked 6th on the World Series table. The win this afternoon is crucial for the season table standings, since Australia was one place ahead of a Samoa going into Hong Kong.
The remaining matches in Hong Kong will see France play New Zealand and Fiji face off Great Britain in the semifinals.
Fifth place is semis are being battled out by Argentina and Spain, and South Africa and USA. Australia was edged out of Cup Contention by USA and Spain in their pool, was Samoa was third to Fiji and Argentina.
Singapore 7s is the third final leg played on Easter weekend.
The final two legs of HSBC World 7s Rugby Series 2023 will be held in London-Toulouse in May.
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