Both teams had endured a disappointing campaign on the Sevens circuit, but victories over Australia and Ireland respectively in the semi-finals handed the sport's old rivals the chance to be crowned world champions.
Fiji - well beaten by South Africa in the Commonwealth Games final earlier this summer - made a blistering start to the final, racing into a 12-0 lead courtesy of tries from Joseva Talacolo and Kaminielo Rasaku inside the first two minutes.