Gareth Baber should measure his progress and how his players fare with the best in the world at the Sydney 7s tournament which starts today at the Allianz Stadium.

One year on after replacing Englishman Ben Ryan, Sydney would be a perfect destination for the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s coach to re-launch his plan as coach for the Olympic champions.

Baber only won one tournament last year which was the Hong Kong Sevens and Sydney tournament have that So Kon Po feel since it’s a three-day event.

Fijians always fare well in the three-day tournament and that is why Happy Valley is always good battleground for us,

Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s captain Ana Maria Roqica during training in Sydney on January 25,2018.
The women play Canada at 11:22am in their pool opener today,Russia at 1:44pm and Ireland at 4:50pm. Photo: Kitione Rokomanu/Zoom Fiji

By now Baber should know how to whip the Fijian side into a winning team.

The Welshman has done the right thing by cracking the whip on indiscipline and adding more depth to the squad by including some Fiji Airways Fijian Drua players on the squad.

This will provide more competition for the regulars 7s players in the squad.

Baber said from Sydney yesterday that the boys are keen to win their first tournament in 2018 this weekend.

“I’m impressed with what the boys have done in training,”he said.

“The new players from the Fijian Drua have settled in well and they push themselves physically to get to where they are.

“I’m also impressed to see players who have been playing in previous tournaments wanting to win Sydney.

“The big emphasis is if we can control the ball we win games as some teams have the ability to control it away from us.

“We know if we get that bit right then we are in business and we are always the best team in the world and most teams want to take that away from us.

“Our job is to force pressure on the opposition to try and create that opportunity for us.

“We should be aggressive in defence, you can be aggressive but lack accuracy.

“Camp has been good this week and this is the opportunity for these players to stamp their mark on being on a level they want to perform.”

Edited by Anasilini  Ratuva

Feedback:  oseab@fijisun.com.fj