Flying Fijians inspire our Olympic champs
The Flying Fijians sterling performance against the All Blacks in the first Test has inspired our national rugby sevens’ players to do the country proud at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The comment was made yesterday by Team Fiji’s men’s rugby sevens head coach, Gareth Baber, from their training camp in Oita City, Japan.
“We watched the Flying Fijians and their performance really motivated our boys to do well at the Olympic Games,” said Baber.
He said despite the 57-23 loss, their performance had challenged his players on what they can do for the country.
The Fijians are the defending Olympic Games gold medal champions.
“That game motivated us and created that energy on these boys as they want to do the same thing as well.
“They want to see that again this weekend,” he said.
“That’s the standard we always wanted to see all Fijian teams to be in.
“And for us although we lost there were a lot of happy faces. They knew that their brothers who they played with in the sevens competition, played well against one of the best teams in the world.
“Absolutely, there is nothing that we love more in Fiji than seen whatever team, it may be our brothers or sisters, playing well and showing the world what we can do as a nation.
“I think the fact is that the Flying Fijians shocked the All Blacks by playing some real good abrasive thought provoking rugby.
“It’s the first time to see the All Blacks shocked and it lifted the spirits of every Fijian at home and around the world.
“They played with physicality and intensity that forced them to work hard for the win.
“The boys were jumping up and down on their seats here in Japan while watching the game,” he added.