Toughjob ahead for Kolinisau to select his final Olympic squad

Fiji Airways Fiji men's rugby sevens head coach, Osea Kolinisau, will surely have a tough job trying to sort out his final squad for the Paris.

Olympic Games in France.

The Olympic Games is from July 26 to August 11. That's because Fijian Drua winger, Taniela Rakuro, and openside flanker Kitione Salawa, have indicated their interest to represent Fiji at the Olympics.

Salawa was a member of Gareth Baber's training squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the age of 19.

Rakuro had been playing in local sevens' tourna­ments before he was signed up by the Drua last year.

The duo has been playing well in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Salawa, who is back from injury, has made the No.7 spot his own with his ball hunt­ing skills, tenacious tackles and strong carries while Rakuro scored a double in the 24-17 win over Moana Pasifika.

They've joined 2016 Rio Olympic gold medallist and United States-based Semi Kunatani, who declared his availability also.

In an earlier interview, a member of the gold medal winning team from the Tokyo Olympics, Iosefo Masi, has yet to make up his mind since he is eyeing a spot in the Flying Fijian squad for the July 20 Test clash against the All Blacks on San Diego.

Like Masi, our Europe-based players of Jiuta Wainiqolo, Sireli Maqala, Taniela Sadrugu and Semi Radradra will only make their move, once they know of their chances of making the Flying Fijians squad for the All Blacks Test match.

With this happening, the onus is now on the current Fiji men's sevens squad to prove themselves worthy of Olympic Games selection by winning next week­end's Singapore Sevens followed by the Madrid tour­nament.

This will put an end of our failure to win the last 19 tournaments of the HSBC SVNS Series and at least restore lost glory, as we go to defend our status as the two-time Olympic champions.

And if they fail to do that, then Kolinisau will have no other choice but to look outside his current squad to get players who can help him get the job done in the Olympics.

With the number of talented players now coming forward it and won't be an easy job for Kolinisau, but whatever he decides deserve our support.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj