The Samoan sevens team says criticism of their recent performances is added motivation to rebound in Wellington this weekend.
The Manu Sevens were Cup finalists in the opening leg on the Gold Coast but slipped to seventh in the World Series standings after missing the quarter finals in both Dubai and Port Elizabeth.
Samoa has rung the changes for the Wellington tournament, with three players selected from New Zealand and the likes of Tom Iosefo, Afa Aioni and Fautua Otto unavailable with injury.
SRU Chair and Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi called on the team to stop the excuses and start winning.
Assistant coach Rudy Moors says the team will use such comments as fuel.
"Those criticisms is good motivation for our boys. We learn from our own mistakes and the boys know, thinking about what happened to them, that's all the life of rugby.
Everyone wants to win, no-one wants to lose - all of those criticisms we put aside and we have to move on and keep going".
Rudy Moors says the team feels well prepared for this weekend and believe they can compete for the Cup title.