No catch up rugby, 7s reps told

The Fiji Airways Fiji men’s rugby 7s team must stop playing catch-up rugby in this weekend’s Perth 7s tournament in Australia. 

This was highlighted to SUNsports yesterday by head coach Osea Kolinisau during a Zoom interview. 

The team arrived in Perth on Monday night where they are in Pool A alongside South Africa, Argentina and Spain. 

During their first training session, Kolinisau stressed to the players that they must stop playing catchup rugby. 

“We need to start early,” he said. 

“That is how we control the momentum of the game.” 

Despite winning last weekend’s Singapore 7s, the Fijians were behind in almost all their games. In the Cup final they were trailing France 0-12 before the came back to win 21-12. 

Viwa Naduvalo was named player of the final. 

Kolinisau said despite niggling injuries to Joseva Talacolo and Iowane Teba, the team is in good spirits. 

“This weekend will be another test. We are preparing for it. It is going to be a good next few days of preparations. We are in a tough pool but we will take each game at a time,” Kolinisau added. 

HSBC Perth 7s pools 

Fiji will face Argentina at 4:20pm, Spain at 7:36pm and South Africa at 10:52pm on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team are in a tough women’s pool for the Perth 7s where they face New Zealand, United States and Japan.