Rugby lesson learnt

Epeli Rabua, Suva

Never did I think, that I will ever say this, but congratulations to the New Zealand All Blacks for being the first team to win their 3rd and back-to-back World Cup.

Commiserations to my gallant Wallabies team for trying and as Captain – Stephen Moore aptly summed up, ‘there are no excuses, we lost to a better team on the day!”.

And as we turn our backs on the 15s version of the game, we can take away a positive learning experience from the final. Just as New Zealand’s 15s rugby teams have made it a habit of winning, where it matters most and have almost made the 15s game their own; our Fiji 7s rugby team can emulate them in the shortened version of the rugby game.

We have made it a habit of winning most of the inaugural 7s tournaments held around the world, won the Hong Kong 7s countless times, the 7s World Cup & the World Rugby Sevens Series twice – we have shown that for such a minute country with a miniscule number of rugby players, we are the mightiest in the game of 7s. Our 15s team scared the rugby world early on, in this 2015 rugby world cup, so imagine how the rugby world will be feeling about our all conquering, 2015 rugby 7s team in Rio in 2016?

Behind an astute and prudent Coach as Ben Ryan, Fiji can benefit from the lesson learnt in this 2015 rugby world cup and use New Zealand’s example to have faith as a nation and believe in the Fiji players chosen to represent the country at the very first Olympic Games – 7s tournament in Rio, will be Champions! And all of us, collectively as a nation together with the 7s team sponsors, need to support our team physically and holistically that they will win Gold!

Nine months of hard grinding work is ahead of us, so let us all get behind Team Fiji 7s and work with Ben Ryan to make it happen for the awe inspiring Fiji 7s team. Bring on Rio!

Total Blackout

Pranil Ram, Nadi

Many congratulations to the All Blacks for winning the RWC 2015.

It was really a sweet one as they have rewritten themselves in the history books by becoming the first team to win the title back to back, and their third time. An amazing feat!

It seemed like the All Blacks had a clear plan right from the start and they really executed it well.

The All Blacks, without much trouble, shrugged of a gutsy challenge from the Wallabies. For Australia it looked like the writing was already on the wall. It was quite difficult for them to play their own brand of rugby as they had the odds heavily stacked against them. They did not in any way provide a real threat in the match. The spectators seemed to be in the total blackout mood and went frenzy when the final whistle sounded.

For All Blacks it was like adding the gloss to a stellar performance. It was a fitting farewell for the greats of modern rugby as well. It was a complete performance from the All Blacks and the title they thoroughly deserve.

Hooray All Blacks!

Daylight usage

Dhirendra Prasad, Lautoka

It is great to save an hour of daylight for other useful things that can be done under natural light. Considering our nation’s stand on climate change this is a professional move to cater for any shortfalls we may have caused. Even if 1st of November had 23 hours in a day we will still have 25 hours on 17th of January next year to suffice for this shortfall.

Let us embrace this concept with positives and see the difference.

Students, get responsible and teach parents on the significance of time and its use. Mothers, accept the need to wake up early to provide for our children on time. This is real life with responsibility.