Players are Settling in Well: Baber
The men’s rugby 7s team are nine days away from kick starting their Olympics campaign against host Japan in Tokyo. The team are currently holding camp in Oita where they’re undergoing their daily training schedule.
Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber explains how the temperature at camp and at the game venues are to their advantage due to the fact that it’s a bit similar to the weather in Fiji.
“The temperature is like Fiji, it’s humid with 32 - 33 degrees and we get some rain as well and I think that’s good for us, it puts us in a good position, the boys are used to training at this environment,” said Baber.
He added that the team have settled in and has familiarised themselves with their surrounding environment, while other players like Semi Radradra, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu are syncing in well with the rest of the squad.
“The players are in good spirit, they had two days of heavy training the boys are doing well, for the likes of Semi who came in late. He has settled in and getting in at the speed in training, while Tuimaba and Botitu are both doing well, settling back into our system,” said Baber.
Heading to kick off their first pool game, Baber understands that the biggest key elements to the game of sevens is control of possessions and applying pressure to opponents looking for some unforced errors.
“We’re never far away from understanding how we can control possessions particularly on restarts and being more effective, and when we get opportunity to create pressure to our start as well,” added Baber.
Baber was impressed with the performance of his troops at the Oceania 7s last month but knowing that’s not the end of the chapter, Baber is expecting both New Zealand and Australia to come back at them in a more strategically game play.
“I was really pleased with the intensity we brought to the Oceania sevens in Australia. I know that’s not a done deal, certainly when go up against Australia and New Zealand, they will go back and review their performance and look at how to increase their intensity,” added Baber.
He has been working around the clock in sharpening the team’s power and pace as well as controlling possession, knowing how special Fijians are within both this areas Baber believes the Fijians 7s will execute well.
“The games that we win there (Oceana 7’s ) is by getting that balance with control of possessions and the use of power and pace in the game, thats the nature of the game and we’re so blessed in Fiji that we have athletes that can do both.”
Baber banks his strategy on the very core key fundamentals of sevens rugby with the likes of restart and defence, creating pressure in the game thus creating opportunity and capitalising on it.
“We’re focused on those key areas to make sure that when pressure comes on the fundamental basis of our game is sound and you look for those elements that allows you to control possessions as well,” added Baber.
The men’s rugby 7s team open up its Olympic campaign against Japan at 12 midday on Monday, July 26, before playing Canada at 8pm. They will face England in their final pool match at 9.30pm on Tuesday.
“The players are in good spirit, they had two days of heavy training the boys are doing well, for the likes of Semi who came in late”