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Samoa avenges Aussie defeat at Tokyo Sevens

Samoa avenged their loss to Australia in last year's Tokyo Sevens final on Saturday, beating the defending champions 26-14 to progress to the quarterfinals of this year's event.

 

Samoa, third in the series standings behind New Zealand and Fiji, scored four tries through Levi Asifa'amatala, Faatoina Autagavaia, Reupena Levasa and Tulolo Tulolo.

 

"It wasn't an easy game. Australia are a good team," Samoa's Afa Aiono said, adding that for the next match "we have to take ourselves to another level".

 

The result means Samoa finish top of Pool D with three wins, earning a last-eight clash against Pool A runners-up South Africa on Sunday.

 

New Zealand, Fiji and Scotland all finished top of their groups.

 

Series leaders New Zealand defeated France 26-7, Canada 22-12, and Japan 41-5 and will play Pool B runners-up United States in the next round.

 

Tim Mikkelson scored his 101st try in the win over France while Sherwin Stowers scored a hat-trick against Japan.

 

"It was good to win three games," New Zealand's Belgium Tuatagaloa said.

 

"The toughest game was against Japan. They were very forward and quick, and they are good team."