Kiwis edge BlitzBoks in dramatic Final

The Kiwis edged arch rivals South African 19-14 in a dramatic and tense Final, to record their third tournament title in six events.

The result also means the race for the series title close right up to just two points.

Fiji, who lost 12-19 to Australia in the third-place play-off just hung onto their series lead.

The Fijians have 106 points with four rounds remaining, followed closely by South Africa (105) and New Zealand (104).

The Aussies are some distance back at 90 points, but with an outside chance of sneaking back into the race.

Samoa claimed the Plate, hosts Canada the Bowl and Russia the Shield.

We look at all the Finals!

Cup Final – South Africa 14-19 New Zealand

An early mistake by New Zealand, when a kick downfield went too long, gave South Africa an attacking scrum deep inside Kiwi territory. However, a BlitzBok knock-on handed possession back to New Zealand.

A kick ahead by the BlitzBokke allowed Rosko Specman to slide over for the opening try – although it took the referee several peeps on the big screen to confirm the try had been scored.

When the South Africans were penalised for a high tackle, the Kiwis set up a line-out and from there work it to the right, before bringing the ball back to the left where Sam Dickson went over. And from the restart Dickson reclaimed possession and sent Gillie Kaka over for a second try – 14-7 in a blink of an eye.

Kaka then produced a great try-saving tackle and won a penalty for his team, as he chased down a flying Albertus Smith – allowing New Zealand to take the seven-point advantage into the break.

The second half got off to a nervous start by both teams, with the penalty count mounting at an alarming rate.

Eventually, with two minutes on the clock, Lewis Ormond went over in the right corner to make it a two-score game – 19-7.

The BlitzBoks were not done, Seabelo Senatla producing a brilliant individual effort to pull the game back to 14-19.

There was enough time for the restart, but it went directly into touch and New Zealand walked away with the title.

Third-place play-off – Fiji 12-19 Australia

The game started in dramatic fashion, with Fiji a man down after Kitione Taliga sent to the sin bin early for a deliberate knock-down. However, the Fijians quickly put their skills on display as Masivesi Dakuwaqa went over for the opening try.

The Australians continued to cough up the ball with monotonous regularity, with the Fijians also struggling with their handling and a scrappy first half.

It was a Quade Cooper pass that handed possession to the Fijians for Emosi Mulevoro to take the Pacific Islanders to take a 12-0 lead. However, right on the half-time hooter Australia's South African import Stephen van der Walt finally got the men from Down Under on the board and make it 12-7 at the break.

It was frenetic at the start of the second half, with John Porch eventually going over after numerous turnovers from both teams – the Aussies hitting the front for the first time. Porch scored another to seal a great come-from-behind 19-12 win for the Aussies.

Plate Final – United States 19-31 Samoa

America may have turned on the style in the semifinal, but it was Samoa who hit the ground running in the Plate Final – with tries from Belgium Tuatagaloa and Alefosio Tapili giving them a 12-0 advantage.

Garrett Bender could hardly believe his luck as the Samoan defence parted like a sea in front of him and captain Madison Hughes got the Eagles back in the match with the final play of the first half.

Another bit of magic from Samoa's man of the moment Phoenix Hunapo-Tofoa sent the aptly-named Alex Samoa racing clear for another try and it got worse for the United States as the Pacific Islanders regained their restart and Tomasi Alosio made it 26-7.

Madison Hughes and Ben Leatigaga crossed the Samoan line, but they were really only consolation scores as Alex Samoa's second had given Samoa the cushion they needed.  

Bowl Final – France 17-19- Canada

France had come within inches of opening the scoring early on, but just when it looked as though Canada simply had to score, a pass from captain John Moonlight was too high for Harry Jones to control and he tapped it up and into Julien Candelon's grateful hands –  the veteran made no mistake to race clear and silence the home crowd.

It gave the French a 7-0 lead at the half-time break.

Canada quickly put the disappointment of that French try behind them as Vancouver local Nathan Hirayama stepped out of a tackle to tie the scores up to the delight of the crowd. France, though, were in the mood to spoil the Canadian party and Stephen Parez edged them ahead before Julien Candelon became the first French player to score 100 tries on the World Series.

You can never underestimate the value of home advantage, though, as Harry Jones gave the Canadians hopes and the crowd saw them home. France will rue the fact they didn't kick the ball out with time up on the clock, giving away the penalty that gave Canada one last shot. They didn't waste the opportunity with captain John Moonlight's try tying the scores and then Nathan Hirayama held his nerve for another match-winning kick to raise the roof!

Shield Final – Russia 17-10 Portugal

First of the four finals in Vancouver is the Shield Final between Russia and Portugal and we didn't have to wait long for the first try, barely 20 seconds were on the clock when Russian captain Dimitri Perov burst through two tackles to open the scoring.

Portugal cancelled out Dimitri Perov's opening score with a try from 18-year-old Vasco Ribeiro, but Vladislav Sozonov ensured Russia would go into half-time in the Shield final with a slender lead.

A somewhat scrappy start to the second half meant we had to wait a few minutes for a try, but Russia scored it after Vladimir Ostroushko powered through a gap in the Portuguese defence. A yellow card for Vladislav Sozonov gave Portugal a man advantage, but they could only claw one try back through Fabio Conceicao – with Russia winning the Shield in Vancouver.

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