VODAFONE FIJIAN 7S COACH BEN RYAN HAS CHALLENGED HIS TEAM TO IMPROVE THEIR IMAGE AFTER ARROGANT SHOWBOATING.
HAVING BEATEN BOTH ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND, FIJI APPEAR ALMOST UNBEATABLE AND EVEN AT THIS EARLY STAGE LOOK WELL SET TO DEFEND THEIR WORLD SEVENS SERIES TITLE.
FIJI HAVE WON ADMIRERS FOR THEIR STYLE OF PLAY BUT THEIR ANTICS WHEN WINNING – ESPECIALLY OVER NEW ZEALAND IN LAST WEEK’S SEMIFINAL – HAVE BORDERED ON ARROGANCE.
EVEN THEIR ENGLISH COACH RYAN WAS UNHAPPY.
“I DON’T THINK WE SHOWED NEW ZEALAND MUCH RESPECT AFTER THE WHISTLE IN THE SEMIFINAL,” RYAN TOLD SUNDAY TIMES.
“IT’S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I’M ABOUT, AND IT SHOULDN’T BE WHAT ANY OF MY MANAGEMENT OR TEAM ARE ABOUT.
“THIS FIJI TEAM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MATCH NEW ZEALAND’S RECORD 47-MATCH WINNING STREAK FROM A FEW YEARS AGO. BUT BASED ON OUR ATTITUDE AFTER THAT SEMIFINAL, THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF THE PLAYERS CONTINUE TO GET CARRIED AWAY LIKE THAT.
“I LOVE OUR BOYS TO DEATH AND I WILL DO A LOT FOR THEM, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE.
“LIKE COACHES WHO NEED BOTH A WORM’S EYE AND BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THINGS, THE PLAYERS NEED A BIT OF BIRD’S EYE TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE AND SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM.
“IT WON’T BE IN BEAUTIFUL TERMS AND WE NEED TO EARN A BIT OF RESPECT IN CAPE TOWN.”
SHOWBOATING (CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARIES ONLINE) IS A SLIGHTLY ANNOYING FORM OF BEHAVIOUR, ESPECIALLY IN SPORT, THAT IS INTENDED TO ATTRACT ATTENTION OR ADMIRATION BECAUSE IT IS VERY SKILFUL.”
MEANWHILE, THE PARTICIPATING TEAMS FOR THE SECOND LEG OF THE 2015-2016 WORLD SEVENS SERIES FOR THE INAUGURAL EVENT IN THE MOTHER CITY ARRIVED ON MONDAY. CAPE TOWN HAS AFFECTED A HEAT WAVE AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF CONDITIONS BECOMING EASIER.

FOOD POISONING
RYAN HAS GIVEN HIS ASSURANCE THE PLAYERS WILL BE FIT TO PLAY THIS WEEKEND.
THIS WAS AFTER THE PLAYERS SUFFERED FROM FOOD POISONING AHEAD THE CAPE TOWN SEVENS
“JUST A FEW MILD CASES NOTHING TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT AT THE MOMENT,” RYAN SAID.
FIJI HAS BEEN POOLED WITH SCOTLAND, RUSSIA AND ARGENTINA.
ARGENTINA HEAD COACH SANTIAGO GOMEZ CORA BELIEVES THERE WILL BE NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS SIDE IN CAPE TOWN.
“PLAYERS ARE PROFESSIONALS AND KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM AND AS MANAGEMENT DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT,” HE SAID.
FIJI PLAYS SCOTLAND AT 9.59PM ON SATURDAY, RUSSIA AT 1:20AM ON SUNDAY FOLLOWED BY ARGENTINA GAME AT 5:03AM. REPORT