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Vodafone Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber continues to stress accuracy in contact and defence areas as the team prepares for Vancouver 7s this weekend. Baber admitted yesterday to SUNsports
09 Mar 2017 11:43
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Fiji at Vancouver of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016-17 in Vancouver on 7 March, 2017. Photo: Martin Seras Lima

Vodafone Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber continues to stress accuracy in contact and defence areas as the team prepares for Vancouver 7s this weekend.

Baber admitted yesterday to SUNsports that indiscipline was their downfall in the final against South Africa in Las Vegas last weekend.

With 10 seconds remaining in the final, forward Sevuloni Mocenacagi copped a red card after a dangerous tackle on Werner Kok.

“Yes, you are right to say that we have to improve our defensive work especially, one on one tackle and getting more comfortable to work without the ball,”Baber said.

“The game we play needs to 100 per cent with or without the ball.”

Mocenacagi will miss all Fiji’s pool matches after receiving three match bans as confirmed by Baber and Vatemo Ravouvou will miss the first pool match against Wales.

Baber said the team have a strong attacking force but would need to step up on defence.

“We have such a phenomenal strike rate when it comes to scoring tries.

“My job is to create the same ambition in our defence while ensuring that we are accurate in our contacts and not falling foul of the law in pressure situations.

“For some of our boys, this is very different than playing in Fiji.

Fiji is grouped in a tough group alongside Samoa, Argentina and Wales in Pool B and Baber anticipates another challenging weekend.

“The group holds issues of its own. Wales beat us in Sydney, Samoa are starting to play with some clarity in their game.

“Argentina was in the USA tournament all the way up, so again, we will not take any of them lightly,” he added.

 

Lutumailagi injured

Joeli Lutumailagi is the only injured player in camp.

“As of today (yesterday) the only player on the injury list is Joeli who has swelling around the knee.

“That would mean that all other 13 players are able to train and I will make my decision on selection based on our training.”

Fiji plays Wales in their first pool match on Sunday at 6:36am, Samoa at 10:12am and Argentina at 1:52pm.



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