Gareth Baber wants the Fijian 7s team to create the winning habit in Townsville this weekend before defending gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics next month.

Speaking in Townsville, Australia, he said PacificAus Sports Oceania Rugby 7 to get underway at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday was a big part of Olympic preparation.

Main objective

“We are looking to win when we get to this level of competition. And you want to get into a winning habit as well.

“The intention is always to win. Now there are other teams who try to do the same things,” he said.

“The intention we get with the team is that we perform to get the win. We know the mark that we are going for to establish that we are on the right pathway when we need to go to Japan.

“I’m not naïve enough to think that it just all goes your own way. You do have loops in what you doing and I also want to see the resilience in the group as well so that can be bad.

First International comp

While this was Fiji’s first international comp since the World Sevens Series had been on hold due to the COVID 19, Baber indicated it would test their performance.

“I suppose it is really just check on benchmark where you are in relation to others. I’m sure the other teams will be thinking of the same thing, they played against each other earlier last month.

“We can see what we can take up to those tournaments and areas of our game that we need to focus on getting better.

“I’m sure there are some things that will always throw up, there are always are. Having the potential you thought about, go back and re visit in your training, develop them and as I said before, then Japan.

Thoughts on Selection Process

While the Fijian side has most experienced players, Baber has also his eyes fixed on the younger talents who have been performing well throughout local comps.

“Experience is a huge part, you just have to look across the squad who have done well across World Series and international competitions in the last decade.

“We know that we have some good experienced players, we are blessed in Fiji as  well that we have good numbers playing the game, at a very high competitive level.

“And the players that have earned their position in that 18, have done it through hard work.

“What you do find is that when they are up shoulders with the experienced boys they not out of step and that is what exactly you are looking for any young player,” he added.

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