Attack Boost

Two experienced sevens players coaching the national side brings in a high-level learning environment as the national sevens team underwent its first training session at Albert Park yesterday.

Fiji 7s head coach Osea Kolinisau was joined by former sevens captain and playmaker and now assistant coach Jerry Tuwai.

“Someone of Jerry’s calibre and experience adds a lot more value to the team. I am grateful for his presence,” Kolinisau said.

“He is looking after attack especially the halfbacks as well. I can focus on defence a lot and Jerry can take on attack and especially just his experience and the place,” he said.

With respect to Tuwai’s achievements and experience, Kolinisau thanked Fiji Rugby for his appointment and was happy to work with him again.

Meanwhile according to Kolinisau the team needs to work on their breakdown, defense and improve their communication.

“We want to get our numbers right into the break down, our decision making, and our discipline which really cost us in our last games at Hong Kong 7s.

“Learning from the discipline on the red card, I think you can’t touch the men in the air. It’s not like there is no force. But that’s the rule of rugby. You can never touch a man and there’s something we’re learning and you know, we should have put it on the synchronous where we were going, but instead we pulled on the board and just got it slightly wrong.

“Another area we are focusing on is our coms and our tackles height. We dissect the game and go back to our analysis. A lot of our tackles were chest high and then we were bouncing off tackles.”

Kolinisau said despite their poor performance from Hong Kong, the team is working hard to improve on the areas that really cost them.

There are three new inclusions to the squad, Aquino Savenaca from Devo Babas, Atunaisa Batikado from the Police 7s team and Amena Yanuyanutawa from the Lomai Viti Rugby club.

“Today (yesterday) - a lot of fighting for spots and competition is something we want to create. Make sure we’re competing and the intensity,” he said.

To cut down unnecessary penalties, the team trained in fatigue scenarios to improve decision making when they are tired.

He added the team is mentally and physically prepared towards the next 7s championship tournament in Valladolid, Spain.

Feedback: tevita.w@fijisun.com.fj