Samoa's Sevens team has moved on from the disappointment of missing out on automatic qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, says coach Sir Gordon Tietjens.
The Manu were leading Australia 12-0 at half-time in the Oceania Olympic Qualifying final earlier this month but conceded three second half tries in Suva to be pipped 19-12.
Australia came from behind to beat Samoa in the Olympic qualifying final. Photo: Oceania Rugby
Losi Filipo was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the game and Sir Gordon said it was always going to be difficult playing with a man down.
He admitted the result "was a tough one to take" - especially after the refereeing panel conceded post-match that Australia had knocked the ball on before their first try - but remained confident the result was behind them and that the players' focus was now focused on their upcoming World Series campaign.
"They're a good side and we've got a lot of self belief out of that that we can play," he said.
"Our defence was first-class, particularly in that first half and we put a lot of pressure on them and we scored a couple of good tries and you get a lot out of that. You've got to put it behind you, you need to always move forward and I'm sure that my players will bounce back with a lot of confidence.
"Yeah, the disappointment is there but it's gone now and we've got to think about our World Series starting in Dubai."
Losi Filipo was sent off in the Olympic qualifying final. Photo: Levan Verdzeuli / World Rugby.
Samoa have shown steady improvement since Sir Gordon took charge in 2017 and the former All Blacks Sevens mentor believes they are now poised to go even further.
"We're realistically going to have a crack at top four. I remember two years ago we were 10th and then we were sixth last year, which was a great year for us on the World Series," he said.
"We've got real belief now. We're starting to build a little bit of depth - a couple of new players coming in - so it's exciting and we've worked particularly hard around our conditioning. We've made a lot of good choices even around the nutritional side of what's required in Sevens now and with that [has come] a lot of change.
"We train particularly hard and we're looking to upskill in a lot of different areas, where we need to get better and hopefully we can take what we're learning now with a lot of confidence into these first two tournaments to start well in the series."
Samoa coach Gordon Tietjens talks tactics. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Sir Gordon is famed for the gruelling training sessions and said the Samoan players are as fit as they've ever been, following the addition of former Hurricanes strength and conditioning coach Keith Roberts to the coaching staff, who previously worked with him during his time in charge of the New Zealand side.
Seventeen players have been contracted so far for the upcoming season, with five further spots still up for grabs, and Sir Gordon said he was excited by the potential of the squad.
"We had two players missing from the Oceanias in (Manu Samoa halfback) Melani Matavao and David Afamasaga, my captain from last year. They've been out with injury and they're still not available from Dubai," he said.
"They've still got to come back in which will strengthen us even more so but I think Losi Filipo, that has actually come from the Wellington Lions team and he's now in my side. He's a very very good player.
"As young as he is - he's 21 - but he's tremendously solid, he's got some good skill-sets, a really composed footballer and I think he's going to produce a lot on the World Series, I'm pretty sure about that."
Melani Matavao playing for Manu Samoa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Samoa will kick off their World Series campaign against Canada, Wales and New Zealand in Dubai next month and Sir Gordon said a fast start was essential.
"To have a good World Series you've got to start well in these first two tournaments and that's got to be our main goal is starting well in Dubai and hitting these Cup Championships will put us in a position to really nail some points early and put some pressure on the other teams."
