Watch Wales, warns Ryan
Former national 7s coach Ben Ryan warned Team Fiji rugby men’s sevens team to watch out for Wales at the Robina Stadium tomorrow.
The Fijians need to beat Wales, Sri Lanka and Uganda to make the semifinal.
Ryan said it was good for Fiji to take their best team to Hong Kong last weekend, winning the tournament for a record four years in-a -row but believes they have to maintain discipline.
This followed the two yellow cards dished out to Seremaia Tuwai and Isake Katonibau in the Cup quarterfinal in Hong Kong against Argentina.
“Lack of discipline like that could cost them dearly in the Gold Coast,” Ryan said.
“It’s a tricky group they got because Wales have got one or two good players in their team,” Ryan said.
“Expect a tricky encounter, Wales hadn’t beaten Fiji in the last couple of years and they want to break that 7-8 years drought, don’t expect that to be an easy game.”
The Englishman is picking Fiji as his favourite for the two-day competition.
“Fiji will have a hard time but if they get through then they will be ever closer to get their first Commonwealth Games gold medal.
“Favourite is Fiji for gold but beware of Wales in the group. They are very tricky side in the one off game, anything can happen,” Ryan said.
Meanwhile, Team Fiji head coach Gareth Baber said the team didn’t feel any added pressure than what they were already accustomed to. “Every game you play there’s always an expectation that comes around it, be it a pool game in a World Sevens Series tournament, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games or a World Cup. These boys are quite used to having that scrutiny put upon them,” Baber said.
“The Commonwealth Games is no exception - we know what Fiji’s here to deliver and make it happen,” he said.
Fiji play Sri Lanka on Saturday at 1:21pm (Fijian time), Uganda at 7:53pm and Wales at 11:33pm with only the top team advancing to the semifinal.
The semifinals and finals will be held on Sunday.