COACH GARETH BABER WILL LOOK TO PLAYMAKER
WAISEA NACUQU FOR INSPIRATION AT HAMILTON AND SYDNEY
Utility backline player Waisea Nacuqu is the man who is going to step into the playmaker’s role during the Hamilton 7s this weekend. Fiji Airways Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber puts faith in the elusive player to man the key role in the second cluster of the World Sevens Series.
Despite the unavailability of playmakers Amenoni Nasilasila and Vatemo Ravouvou, Baber said Nacuqu proved his worth before and should do it again in Hamilto and Sydney next week.
Nasilasila did not play in the Cape Town 7s win in South Africa last month while Ravouvou had lost his form.
Baber said one of the reasons they won in Cape Town was how Nacuqu had played.
“He stepped up did what needs to be done and he can do,” it again,”Baber said.
“The people around the world know him. The other teams hate to play against him because he has such abilities.”
The Welshman said one of the big things they had worked on was the restarts.
“It takes time. We engaged three or four players for the task during training and they were regularly hitting it. “Ravouvou is one of the best in the world but I feel the new players are beginning to push for that and we should be fine.” The team departs today for Hamilton.
On Saturday, the Fijians take on Wales at 10.52am, Argentina at 2.42pm with the final clash against Australia at 6.52pm.
Pugh wants Wales to step up
Wales have named three uncapped players for the Hamilton and Sydney legs of the World Sevens Series.
Rio Dyer (Dragons), Tom Rogers (Scarlets) and Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys) - all recent Wales U20 players - are set to make their sevens debuts at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday, while there is a return for Cardiff Blues back rower Sion Bennett.
Head coach Richie Pugh said in keeping with the opening two rounds of the series, Wales have another highly competitive pool to navigate, starting with the Fijians.
“The benchmark has been set for this camp, with the boys having now had a taste of the World Series in Dubai and Cape Town,” says Pugh, who will be supported by Dragons Academy coach Matt O’Brien.
“So the expectation is higher as we’ve all experienced the top level now.
“I’m expecting a step up in performance, but as with any pool there’s a huge challenge and opportunity to do that against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.
“We showed in South Africa that we can compete with the best, with Australia having only beaten us in the last play of game. “But we have to take those lessons and confidence into this tournament and challenge ourselves to perform.”
Wales Sevens: Joe Jenkins, Owen Jenkins, Ben Roach, Luke Treharne (c) Cardiff Blues: Dane Blacker, Sion Bennett, Dafydd Smith Dragons; Rio Dyer, George Gasson, Joe Goodchild Ospreys:Reuben Morgan-Williams Scarlets: Tom Rogers Aberavon: Mike Wilson.