​Canada finished the Sydney Sevens rugby tournament on a strong note Sunday with a ninth place finish and a victory in the consolation bowl final over a chief rival for an Olympic berth.

After going 0-3 on Day 1 of competition against New Zealand, Australia and Portugal, the Canadians came back to go a perfect 3-0 on Day 2.

Canada defeated Wales 32-21 and Scotland 35-12 before beating Samoa 17-12 in the consolation final on a pair of tries by Nathan Hirayama.

Samoa is one of the teams Canada will be battling at the final Olympic qualifying tournament this summer.

Controversy lingers over tourney final

New Zealand beat Australia 27-24 in a thriller to win the inaugural Sydney event although it played the tournament's second day in the shadow of controversy lingering from the teams' first meeting.

Australia and New Zealand were drawn in the same group as Canada and, in the last pool match Saturday, New Zealand scored a stoppage-time try for a 17-17 draw with Australia that placed it atop Pool A. Television replays later showed New Zealand had eight players on the field at the start of the move that produced the decisive try.

World Rugby launched an investigation Sunday as New Zealand fought its way into the final and scored a try after full time for its second-straight tournament victory.

New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji are tied in first place in the Series standings after four of eight rounds. Canada remains 12th.

The circuit switches to North America next with stops in Las Vegas and Vancouver.