The latest reaction from the final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Edinburgh as Samoa look to clinch a first Series title.
Day Two
Samoa coach, Stephen Betham (Cup and Series winners)
On what winning the Cup and the Series means:
"We did it for our nation back home and all credit to the boys they stuck it out from the start. It was a difficult task that they overcame and I think they did it for the people back home.
On being able to put in such a strong performance after a 27 minute semi final:
"I think it was just due to the pressure being lifted and they went out there and enjoyed it. I told them to go and enjoy it and they just play to enjoy."
On what it will do for Samoa:
"It is the first World Series we have ever won in anything to do with rugby and it is just going to lift the nation. I think the people back home should be proud of these players and I hope it can carry on."
Mikaele Pesamino, Samoa
On being voted IRB Sevens Player of the Year and winning the World Series
"I wanted to be the top try scorer this year and I wanted to be the Player of the Year and I feel great, I feel happy, not only for me but also for my team mates, my family all the way from Samoa. They pray for us, they cheer for us, and also our fans, our younger players, this is our best gift for them for our Independence Day next week," said Pesamino on receiving the award.
"We select our players from our local island boys. They play for the jersey and they play from the heart, they have humble hearts.
"It's Sunday today in Samoa and the people will go to church and the pastors will talk and I think they will talk about rugby on this day.
"Our Prime Minister said that we would have a national holiday if we won the Series, and we'll celebrate, we'll enjoy tonight and this is our best gift to our people."
James Stannard, Australia captain (Cup runners-up)
On a second Cup final in a week:
"It has been an incredible two weeks, we really came together and we did this weekend too but Samoa just came out and wanted to win I guess.
On Samoa's performance:
"It just shows you how important set pieces are and they really killed us at it on the kick offs, but all credit to them they were the best team on the day."
On coming third on the Series overall:
"Very proud of the boys it is sensational and I can't believe it really. We had a goal for top four this year but to get third is even better."
Stephen Gemmell, Scotland coach (after Shield victory in his final tournament)
On the Plate victory:
"There was a bit of disappointment we didn't go further in the Cup but to win five out of six against the calibre of teams we played speaks volumes and there is no better place to do it than here at Murrayfield."
On what is possible for Scotland:
"There are some quality players in Scotland and we just need a bit of consistency in our selection. I just said to the guys they need to take belief from this weekend because sometimes in Scotland the biggest critics are themselves."
On it being his last tournament:
"I knew it was my last tournament and the players knew it was my last tournament so it has all been a little bit emotional. It has meant a lot of grey hairs and losing a lot of hair but it has been the biggest privilege of my life. It has been thoroughly enjoyable, a real rollercoaster with some great highs, real lows, but what a way to finish."
Jevon Groves, Wales captain (after Bowl victory)
On the Bowl victory:
"I think overall it was a really good performance over the weekend. Saying that we did have a disappointing day yesterday but the boys showed some great character to come back, beat some good teams and win the Bowl competition. We boosted our points in the rankings and overtook USA so we are pleased on the whole."
Stephen Betham, Samoa coach (after clinching World Series)
On the victory over England:
"Couldn't get any better could it. I think my heart almost stopped ten times and I think I have grown another 20 grey hairs but that is Sevens for you."
On any messages he was trying to get on to his players:
"The only message was to try and support each other when we make a break. We were all really tired and we knew England were out on their feet so knew whoever took their chance would win the game."
On what it means to Samoa:
"I think they will be partying back home now and will be partying until we get home, I am pretty lost for words but am trying to gear myself up for the final game and I think I will enjoy it more after that."
On Lolo Lui:
"Lolo Lui has been consistently kicking goals for us this year and it is a big bonus for us to have someone who can do that."
Ben Gollings, England captain (after defeat to Samoa)
On the loss to Samoa:
"Absolutely gutted. As a team we have come a long way since yesterday but we didn't take our chances, especially in extra time. We should have held a few penalties, slowed it down and been a bit wiser with ball in hand. I think we had them on the racks for a while and can't fault the boy's effort. Unbelievable defence in that last period which was sensational, down to six men twice in extra time and still managed to hold them out."
On how difficult it is to play against Samoa:
Very difficult, they are a side oozing with confidence and there is experience throughout the team. We have had some good battles which we have come second best in every time this year. It is nice to see another team win the World Series, it just opens things up more."
Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand coach (after defeat to Australia)
On the defeat to Australia in the Cup semi final:
"We certainly didn't deserve to beat Australia as we lacked ball and possession and kick offs were a huge negative for us. We got the ball in the first couple of minutes and scored a try but didn't really touch it after that. Without the ball and missing tackles you are really going to struggle."
On Samoa beating England in sudden death extra time:
"It was an incredible win, perhaps our guys lost a little bit of thought going into the Australia game having watched that match go into extra time. England blew it, I thought they had the winning of the game after Samoa had subbed some of their best players off and I thought they had the fire power on the field at that time. Samoa were lucky to have someone who could drop goals and drop them from fairly a long way out."
On what a World Series win means for Samoa:
"I think it is great for Samoa. They have worked really hard and in some ways it would have been sad to see them get so far ahead and lose it at the death but they have put a lot of hard work in and it is thoroughly deserved."
Paul Treu, South Africa coach (outgoing World Series coach)
On Samoa:
"All credit to Samoa they have really played their hearts out in this tournament. That was probably one of the best semi finals we have ever seen taking it right up to the last minute of extra time. It just shows you what a lot of heart and commitment, and they have put their soul into this. I am so happy for them, Sevens is just a different ball game now."
Nigel Starmer Smith, TV Commentator (before Cup semi finals)
On New Zealand v Australia:
"I find it very hard to ever back against New Zealand. It is absolutely extraordinary that there is this composure under DJ Forbes and under Gordon Tietjens. They have eight try scorers in their squad which is shared across the squad. Tim Mikkelson is an unsung hero and every time he comes on he seeems to score every round. If someone is not on song then someone else is, and I think their experience will give them the edge over Australia."
On Samoa v England:
"I think Samoa will win without too much difficulty. They are in some ways the complete side, across the board with Treviranus, Mikaele and the backup players. Aiono has come from nowhere and become a key ingredient. They have a team uninjured and England scraped home against Scotland so I don't think they will be in the contest. As a result Samoa will be in the final which means they clinch the Series, and then it is a real tossup. But with seven wins in a row against New Zealand they will end on the highest possible note. Samoa to win it overall."
Nick Royle, England (after two tries against Scotland)
On the victory:
"Fantastic. We needed to build on yesterday we had a poor start. We played well in the Australia game but gave them a bit of a chance to get back into it. We took the goodness out of yesterday into today, messy conditions but we knew what we had to do and stuck to the game plan."
On some harsh words over night:
"We got a bit of a telling off and kick up the backside but we knew we had to perform today."
Day One
Stephen Betham, Samoa coach (after 31-10 defeat to Argentina)
On if Argentina had scored two more tries Samoa would have been out of the Cup competition:
"What can I say? Argentina came to win and they won. I was aware of that, but we will just have to wait and see tomorrow. It doesn't matter who we play it is going to be do or die tomorrow."
Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand coach (after South Africa victory)
On the first proper test today:
"Yeah it was, certainly the game against South Africa. We knew it was going to be a tough test as we always have pretty good games. They had a couple of injuries this morning, I certainly identified that, but they still give you a real fight and it could have gone either way really."
On the possibility of throwing the game, knowing Samoa had won their pool:
"No it was never going to be that. Our goal was to win the tournament and if we are good enough to win the tournament then what happens after that, happens. I decided to give a couple of guys a crack at this level to see whether they can handle it and it was a good opportunity to give some of the guys extra game time."
On Zar Lawrence:
"Big day, 100 tries, magnificent effort, and he played pretty well against South Africa as well. He didn't get a lot of game time in London but he has come back with a bit of vengeance and he wants his spot back. I am building a lot of depth in this squad and that is excellent."
On Samoa losing to Argentina:
"It was a surprise but they had to be beaten by 30 to not finish top of their pool so perhaps they gave some of their players a run, I don't know, I didn't see Stephen's line up. But a bit of a surprise, they have beaten them two weeks in a row now Argentina."
Ally Hogg, Scotland captain (after Wales victory)
On being unbeaten on day one:
"After the Fiji game we had a lot of confidence, the USA game we played well and here we managed to finish it off as well. We knew we still had a lot to do going into that game with all three of us being able to go through, but I am pleased with the way the boys played. We dominated the first half which gave us a cushion going into the second half and the boys played really well."
On what he makes of the Sevens game:
"It is great. I played in it last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it and was delighted to come back. I am coming back from my hip injury but starting to feel good now and it is good to be running about, getting ball in the hand and it only lasts 14 minutes which is a bonus. The atmosphere is great."
On the difference from last week:
"I think playing together as a team. Everyone is working for each other, we are not leaving guys isolated and working hard to get guys on the inside of each other and backing each other up. Having the five games under our belt last week has really helped us this week."
Michael O'Connor, Australia coach (after draw with England)
On coming back from 21-0 down:
"England ambushed us at the start with three converted tries. 21-0 and it was a big ask to come back from that but I am really proud of the boys it really showed a lot of character. Right under the pump there at 21-14 and they held their nerve and the line out at the end which was really impressive."
On day two:
"The tournament really begins tomorrow and I think we have Fiji first so it is a big ask. All the teams are feeling it a bit from last week and the results seem to be a lot closer and we are seeing upsets this weekend. It is really a war of attrition now and seeing what players you have fit but there are some pretty weary bodies."
On the race between Samoa and New Zealand for the title:
"I think New Zealand, the way they have come out and have made a strong bid for that championship. But once again when Samoa bring their A game which could possibly happen tomorrow, no one can beat them."
Nicholas Fernandez Lobbe, Argentina coach (after victory over Samoa)
On an excellent performance against Samoa:
"I was talking earlier, our first game very early we weren't used to it and we didn't do our pre-game very well. France played better than us and we lost so we told our guys we had to win our second two games and we came to Samoa having to win by 18 points and I think it was a great game."
Morgan Williams, Canada coach (after victory over England)
On the victory:
"That was an incredible win. Right now the guys are on a bit of a high but we still have Portugal. If we don't win against Portugal that negates the performance we had against England."
On the win not coming out the blue either:
"We have had a steady progression this season which is looking really good for us. Coming away with a surprising victory for the Bowl in London was huge for us. Our biggest thing is to carry it on in Scotland with that win there. A call here or there in the game against Australia might have seen that game tied too I think. We are ecstatic with the win but the jobs not done until we are done with Portugal."
Ally Hogg, Scotland captain (after victory over Fiji in first round of pool matches)
On an outstanding victory over Fiji:
"It was a good performance. We were disappointed from last week and we talked all this week leading up to this game that we needed a big performance in the first game, just to set our stall out. Fiji first up was a tough ask but we performed really well, we did everything pretty much right, couple of lapses but that is always going to happen as the Fijians are a quality side."
On what the difference was from last week:
"Working for each other to be honest. The work rate out there, everyone was backing each other up and no one was on their own at any point. That is what the Fijians are like, isolate one person and put them under a lot of pressure and we worked really hard to get across the pitch and back each other up and that showed."
Gordon Tietjens, NZ coach (after big win against Russia first up)
On the victory over Russia:
"It was a good hit out, to score 50 points in the first game was good for us and for the tournament. We did a lot of things, gave some of the new guys some game time and that was a real positive going into our next game against Italy."
On a potential pool decider against South Africa:
"Italy is important for us but going into the next one hopefully a big one against South Africa. We know what a win in that means, being kept on the other side of the draw from perhaps Samoa, or a loss could put us up against Samoa in the quarter finals."
On whether they would rather meet Samoa in the quarters to have destiny in their own hands tomorrow:
"We are going out to win every game, it doesn't matter to be fair. It has happened a couple of times to us before if we had gone looking to lose a game, so we can meet perhaps Samoa, in this case, then we would have a crack at it.
"It has turned around for us pretty well the last times we have been in the same situation, in Scotland a couple of years ago with Fiji losing to Wales, but we could have deliberately dropped a pool game then to meet them."
On if New Zealand win the tournament and Samoa win the Series:
"We are out to win the tournament first and foremost. We would love to win the tournament and make it three on the Series this year but if we can win the Series at the same time than that's superb."
Zar Lawrence, NZ(after big win against Russia first up)
On the opening victory over Russia:
"The boys know we have to set the standards somehow. We wanted to start off with some good confidence and I think the boys went out there and did the job so we are looking pretty happy at the moment."
On playing South Africa in the pool decider:
"We are just trying to win every game really. South Africa are a tough team after making the final last week but we are looking at Italy first. Whatever happens happens but we have to get up against Italy, secure a spot in the quarters, and whatever happens after that is out of our hands."
