In claiming the GMF-sponsored Paris Sevens, France have won their first ever IRB Sevens title, beating Rugby World Cup Sevens winners Fiji in a fine final 28-19 on the very last day of the 2004/05 season.
Where normally the French are unpredictable, here they impressed from start to finish and performances of quality permeated throughout the side on both days. Vincent Clerc's pace was a welcome addition, but it was the regulars Ferreres, Jahouer and Malzieu who on this occasion proved title-winners.
The day also saw Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand side awarded the trophy for their sixth IRB Sevens series title. Once again the New Zealanders' consistency throughout the season saw them through, four straight title wins in George, Wellington, Los Angeles and Singapore taking them too far clear of closest challengers Fiji, England, South Africa and Argentina.
France, playing in their first ever IRB Sevens final, went 14-0 up in quick time through the impressive Jahouer and Malzieu. Nanuku pulled one back before the master Serevi and Ratuvou put the islanders 19-14 ahead at half time.
The crowd responded with partisan encouragement and the inspired Laurent Ferreres scored under the posts shortly after the break to put the French 21-19 up and signal a period of sustained French pressure which might have yielded more points had it not been for some outstanding Fijian defence. France were rewarded though, more good work from Ferreres leading to a try from Patrick Bosque for a 28-19 lead, which even Fiji's best efforts could not diminish. Finally Cup success for the effervescent French coach Thierry Janeczek.
France had earlier defied the odds at their home IRB Sevens tournament by making it through to their very first final, beating New Zealand in the semi final 14-12. Tries for Vincent Clerc and Rida Jahouer took the French out to a 14-0 lead and they held on in the face of a strong NZ comeback. Amasio Valance and Hayden Reid both touched down, but Tietjens' men fell a conversion short of tying things up fully.
Fiji had booked their place in the final courtesy of a 29-7 win over Samoa, Neumi Nanuku and two-try Rupeni Koroi again inspirational in firing the Rugby World Cup Sevens winners to their third IRB Sevens final of the season.
Earlier, the French had also proved too strong for an injury-hit South Africa in running out 27-10 winners, Vincent Deniau providing much of the forward motion for Janeczek's side, while New Zealand had come from behind to beat Scotland 29-7 in the first quarter final. Samoa had accounted for England in the fourth quarter final, David Lemi inspiring them to a 21-14 victory against a below par England performance.
The Plate final saw a replay of last weekend's Cup final at Twickenham, South Africa again getting the better of an injury-hit England 26-19.
Tries for Demas, van der Merwe and Damons looked to have put South Africa out of sight, but England came back through Thirlby (2) and Haughton, only for Demas to steam through the middle and snatch victory with sudden death extra time seconds away.
South Africa had earlier secured a thrilling 26-17 win over Scotland, Danwell Demas and Schalk van der Merwe each touching down twice with tries for Turnbull and Johnston bringing Scotland back.
England had beaten Australia 24-0 to reach the final, captain Simon Amor returning from injury momentarily to free Ben Gollings into a more attacking role to score two of England's three tries, Armitage also touching down and Haughton grabbing his 100th in IRB Sevens history.
The Bowl also saw a high-class final, Los Angeles and Wellington finalists Argentina beating battling Georgia 26-10. In doing so Puma Santiago Gomez Cora also consolidated his position at the top of the all-time try-scoring tables with two more tries to take him to 121 all-time.
In the Shield final Canada followed a semi final win over Kenya with a 33-21 win over Russia.
The final spoils, though, to New Zealand, awarded their sixth overall IRB Sevens title in as many years. The most consistent side over the season with four outstanding consecutive titles, Gordon Tietjens does it again and the New Zealanders will once again be the team to beat next year.