TV commentator Scott Hastings gives his thoughts on the USA Sevens, the fifth round of the HSBC Sevens World Series, in the latest column for irbsevens.com.
The USA Sevens was utterly incredible. It was my first occasion here and you can hear that I am horse because I am just so excited, it was just brilliant, brilliant Sevens.
The final itself was magnificent and the semis had also been compelling for different reasons. New Zealand had beaten South Africa rather convincingly, and for Samoa to turn over Fiji in such a physical match you wondered if they could come out and repeat that feat.
But in the manner that they did, to have the lead, for the excellence and brilliance of New Zealand to come back and square it at 19-19, before the ending which was quite phenomenal when Fa'osiliva went over in the corner was just remarkable and the atmosphere here was one of the best in recent memory.
I am an emotional guy and as I was commentating even I was shedding a tear during the final just at the sheer brilliance of the physicality and superb skill and fitness of these wonderful players.
And the Islanders just seemed to bring something to this tournament - that there was something special happening in the wonderful setting at the Sam Boyd Stadium.
It is a sheer and utter compelling argument for matching such a party city with a party sport.
Something special
I have to give credit to Dan Lyle and everyone at USA Rugby, not only for proving a fantastic stadium but also playing surface. The volunteer staff, everything about the tournament has really impressed me.
On the pitch, the performances, the fantastic ties at all levels of competition and the thrills and spills of Sevens was just at the forefront here and it opens up the Series nicely moving ahead into the biggest tournament in Hong Kong.
Then a new venue, back to Tokyo, before finishing off in Glasgow and to Twickenham for the finale, where there could be more than 130,000 over the weekend and they are going to have to go some to beat the atmosphere here because it was one of the best in recent memory.
I don't think you can predict a favourite. There are five or six teams that could go to Hong Kong and win there. A lot of teams will go away, but they are going to come back fitter, better, stronger, fresher.
These guys are the fittest rugby players on the planet and they have given us something very special here in Las Vegas.
I have a passion for Sevens and have always loved it. It was always a brilliant game to play and it broke the monotony of 15-a-side.
Now when you see the HSBC Sevens World Series and the locations they go to, the complete and utter fun that people have, and the brilliance of the athletes on show it is just fascinating.
Seven of the best!
