No easy games: Kolinisau

Three standby players for the Fiji men's rugby 7s team have arrived in Dubai. This was confirmed to SUNsports yesterday by head coach Osea Ko­linisau.

"The players have arrived to feature in the Dubai Invitational tournament and provide injury cover before the team heads to Cape Town (next weekend)," he said.

Kolinisau said with the new for­mat there are no easy games. With every pool match effectively being a knockout, he has urged the players to approach each game with full intensity.

"Every game is a quarterfinal. We can't slip up in one game. Al­though we're the defending cham­pions, we want to attack this tour­nament again and play the Fijian style of play; which we've been working on."

Kolinisau said for this week they have been focused on sharpening key areas of their game.

"We're working hard on our one-on-one defence, our attack, our kick-offs, our set pieces and you've got to be good in every­thing because there are no more easy games."

He also indicated that discipline and communication remain a critical area of their campaign.

"We cannot afford cards. We want seven players on the field at all times. We've also been practicing yellow-card scenarios to maintain structure when under pressure."

Kolinisau said the players have adapted well to the conditions and the time difference.

"There's a lot of energy; no inju­ries, and we're excited for what's coming. I'm happy where the boys are right now."

Meanwhile, the Fiji men's 7s development side will travel to South Korea to train and play against their national team.

"It's an exciting time for the youngsters. I want the develop­ment players treated the same way as the senior team."

Fiji faces Argentina in their pool opener on Saturday at 9.10pm fol­lowed by their clash against South Africa on Sunday at 12.16am and France at 4.12am.