MAGNIFICENT

Now up to second in World Sevens Series

MEN OF COURAGE... The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team celebrate their victory of the Canada 7s in Vancouver after beating Kenya 31-12 yesterday in the Cup final. The victory in Vancouver is the second World Sevens Series win for the team this year after Hamilton in New Zealand. This puts the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s in second place in the World Sevens Series table. South Africa still leads the Series with 109 points, with Fiji on 101.

Playing smart rugby has been the message to the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s players during the second day of the Canada Sevens in Vancouver yesterday.

After trailing 5-12 against South Africa in the Cup semifinals, coach Gareth Baber urged the players to play smart rugby.

“Eliminate the errors and be smart,” Baber said. This made the Fijians click as they ran in tries to prop Kalione Nasoko and Amenoni Nasilasila in the second half.

Again in the Cup final, while held 12-all at halftime where the Fijians were merely playing catch-up rugby in the first half. Baber again told the players to play smart and throw the ball out wide.

This became evident in the second spell when the Seremaia Tuwai captained-side opted to kick for territory from free kicks in order to pin the Kenyans close to their tryline.

The Collins Injera-side buckled under pressure and allowed Sevuloni Mocenacagi and Paula Dranisinukula to crash over for tries while a Nasilasila grubber behind the defence saw Alasio Naduva winning the race to the tryline.

Mocenacagi was later named the HSBC Player of the Final.

RESULTS

Challenge Trophy QF: Canada 0-19 Scotland, France 12-19 Wales, Russia 14-7 Uruguay, Samoa 0-24 Spain; Cup QF: Australia 19-24 South Africa, Fiji 43-7 Argentina, New Zealand 0-17 USA, England 0-12 Kenya; 13th Place SF: Canada 31-19 France, Uruguay 14-45 Samoa; Challenge Trophy SF: Scotland 26-15 Wales, Russia 7-14 Spain; 5th Place SF: Australia 28-24 Argentina, New Zealand 17-21 England; Cup SF: South Africa 1215 Fiji, USA 19-24 Kenya; 13th Place Playoff: Canada 15-21 Samoa; Challenge Trophy Final: Scotland 29-5 Spain; 5th Place Playoff: Australia 14-31 England; Bronze Final: South Africa 29-7 USA; Cup Final: Fiji 31-12 Kenya

Photo: Zimbio

Photo: Zimbio Fiji Airways Fijian 7s wing Alasio Naduva on his way to score against Kenya in the Cup final in Vancouver on March 12, 2018.

Photo: Zimbio From left: Fiji Airways Fijian 7s winger Alasio Naduva is congratulated by Amenoni Nasilasila after scoring against Kenya in the Cup final on March 12, 2018.