Transcript
With Fiji leading the Americans 19-7 at half-time in their semi final showdown, captain Paula Dranisinukula had a simple message for his team.
"In that huddle I just said to the boys: "If you want to be a history maker don't let this moment go past you". I tell the boys just give your all for another seven minutes and you will be the history maker and make our people back home and your family proud of you".
It's Fiji's first World Series title since 2016 and their triumph in Paris also marks the first time Fiji has won World Series tournaments on consecutive weekends, after retaining their London title a week earlier.
Head coach Gareth Baber says Fiji's first World Series win in Paris also helps to atone for a disappointing end to last season, when they were pipped to the overall title on the final day.
"Last year we came here and were further in front but we didn't have the wherewithal's to finish it off and that was quite painful. You get a lot of learnings from that and certainly we've taken them this year and I though that the back-end of the season - carrying on from Hong Kong, Singapore, London last week - and then to round it off as we did today is pretty special. It's all credit to everybody back home in Fiji, everybody that supported us and kept patient but most of all to this staff and this quality outfit that we've got playing for us."
The USA were the only country to reach the semi finals in all ten World Series tournaments but Eagles coach Mike Friday conceded Fiji were too good when it mattered most, winning five of the ten series legs and beating the Americans in six of their seven head to head match-ups.
"You know credit to Fiji in the semi final. They put us under pressure at critical times and that minute either side of half-time hurt us and South Africa did the same so these are valuable lessons for us...unfortunately in the USA they love winners and we haven't quite got there - that's credit to Fiji and they've been outstanding this season too and deserve their series victory."
Meanwhile, Fiji have also dominated the individual awards announced in Paris.
Napolioni Bolaca was named player of the final while Vilimoni Botitu was named in the tournament Dream Team and awarded Impact Player of the season.
Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Jerry Tuwai Vilimoni Botitu and Aminiasi Tuimaba were all selected in the World Series Dream Team for 2019, while Derenalagi was also named the rookie of the year.
