Fiji Looks to Build on Singapore Success as Perth 7s Present New Challenges
The Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s team is turning the page on their thrilling victory in Singapore, focusing now on a challenging opening match against Argentina at the Perth 7s. Head coach Osea Kolinisau acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining momentum in the HSBC SVNS series, where every team poses a potential upset threat.
“We want to build on momentum from Singapore, but Perth is a new week,” Kolinisau stated. “Right now it’s tough to win back-to-back with this format, but the plan is to try and do better than Singapore this week and stay ahead in the series.”
The Singapore 7s win was a significant achievement for Fiji, but Kolinisau is keen to avoid complacency. The team’s success hinged on a strong team effort and standout individual performances, particularly from playmaker Vuiviawa, who Kolinisau challenged earlier in the season to improve his all-around game. The coach highlighted the importance of support from teammates in creating opportunities for Vuiviawa to excel.
“Yeah, Vuiviawa is someone who works really hard in training and you can see that pay-off when he’s playing,” Kolinisau said. “And hats off to the boys around him as well, it’s a team sport. Most of the boys they put Vuiviawa into space and Vuiviawa works his magic.”
The Singapore tournament also marked the successful debuts of Nacani Boginisoko and Douglas Daveta, providing a boost to the team’s depth. Kolinisau expressed his excitement about their potential for growth and contribution as they gain experience at the highest level.
Argentina Presents a Formidable First Test
Fiji’s opening pool match against Argentina is expected to be a stern test. Despite inconsistent results earlier in the season, Kolinisau has a high regard for the Argentine squad. He points to their performance in Dubai, where they struggled, followed by a strong showing in Cape Town, reaching the semi-finals, as evidence of their potential.
“First game, that’s going to be tough. Argentina is always a good side. They showed that in Dubai. They lost all their matches in Dubai, then went to Cape Town and made the semi-finals. They’re a quality side,” Kolinisau explained.
While Argentina is integrating younger players into their lineup, Kolinisau emphasizes that the team still boasts a core of experienced campaigners. This blend of youth and experience makes them a dangerous opponent.
The Fijian team will also face Spain and South Africa in their pool, presenting a challenging path to the knockout stages. Kolinisau stressed the importance of discipline and a one-game-at-a-time mentality as they navigate the tournament.
“We have Argentina first, then Spain. When we get to South Africa, we’ve learned from last week that most of the tries came from kicks. Our defense is solid and we’ll make necessary adjustments as needed for South Africa,” Kolinisau said. “Right now we want to focus on one game at a time. We have a very good Argentinian side up first. Then we’ll focus on Spain, then South Africa.”
Fitness and Preparation
Regarding player fitness, Kolinisau reassured fans that the team is recovering well from minor injuries sustained in Singapore. Talacolo’s shoulder injury and Teba’s recent contusion, which kept him out of the final against New Zealand as a precaution, are being closely monitored by the medical team.
Kolinisau’s focus extends beyond individual matchups to the overall strategy of starting strong and controlling the game. He acknowledged the team’s resilience in Singapore, where they consistently came from behind to win crucial matches, but expressed a desire to avoid that pattern.
“We don’t plan to go intentionally to play catch up rugby,” Kolinisau stated. “I’ve always stressed the importance of playing starting in front is important in sevens, but I’m glad it’s showing a side of the boys, that they are resilient. We were not broken, especially three very good teams that are on top of the series. To be behind on double scores… I commend the boys, we didn’t panic, stuck to our processes. This week is about rectifying that and making sure the team starts strong.”
The Perth 7s represents a crucial opportunity for Fiji to solidify their position at the top of the HSBC SVNS standings. Kolinisau aims to have Fiji ahead on the points table after the tournament, but recognizes the need for consistent performance and a focused approach to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
Fiji’s pool schedule is as follows: Argentina at , Spain at , and South Africa at . Fans in Fiji can watch all the action live on FBC TV.
