Final test
BABER: WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE ALL 18 PLAYERS
FIJI 7s coach Gareth Baber will rotate all the players in the national squad during the PacificAus Sports Oceania Sevens tournament which starts in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia today.
A total of 18 players have travelled from Fiji for the three-day tournament and they will be joined by France-based Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu.
Baber said there was an agreement with the organisers of the tournament to use all the players in the squad.
He said this would give him a chance to test the players especially those who would be playing in an international tournament for the first time.
“There is an agreement that we will be able to use all the 18 players and potentially we will have 20 with Botitu and Tuimaba joining us,” Baber said.
“That is the whole plan. New Zealand and us want to make sure that we will have an opportunity to see players in full international rugby before having to make those selection decisions sometimes next week.
“It is important obviously to rotate them. There is a maximum that we have agreed to take on the field in the tournament and that is 14.
“But what we take a view of is what we do in Fiji by working with 12 and then we rotate players from the first game and obviously between games as well,” he said.
“What we are trying to do is really get a good look at some of the boys who haven’t had that international experience by giving them an opportunity to push their case forward in selection,” Baber said.
“But equally to see the players who have the experience standing out and leading the group.
“But equally to see the players who have the experience standing out and leading the group. There will be a lot going on in the next three days and it is important that we get that opportunity to see everybody.
“That was the agreement that we struck. We are really looking forward to getting into the tournament and it has been a long time coming.
“It is having the ability and focus on what we love doing best which will be huge importance for us this weekend.”
Fiji will play Australia in the first match at 4pm.