Teams show class

TBy RAJNESH LINGAM

HE year 2021 has gone down into history books. Both the men’s and women’s 7s teams struck the podium at Tokyo during the Olympic Games amidst emotions and tears of joy.

The nation came to a standstill during the pandemic. Fijians had suffered massively through the unemployment crisis and fear from COVID-19, which was claiming lives, and despite the restrictions curfew put in place, Fijians basked in glory, first at the success of the men’s 7s team, and then the historic bronze medal victory from the Fijiana 7s side, which rattled NZ and Team Great Britain. Celebrations continued into the early hours, and when the teams returned, they were given a heroes’ welcome.

Let’s re-live that moment of delight and madness.

Back-to-back gold for men

Fiji stunned the All Blacks 7s to win gold medal again. Tears flowed freely, as the tiny Pacific nation tasted glory again after an emphatic win. The flamboyant flying Fijians maintained their dominance of Olympic rugby 7s with a comprehensive 27-12 gold medal win at the Tokyo Stadium, retaining the title they won in Rio five years ago. Five years after their inspiring victory in Rio, Fiji sealed an emotional second consecutive Olympic gold medal with a thrilling win over the reigning HSBC WRSS title holders, the Commonwealth Games 7s gold medalists and RWC 7s champions. It was a special and emotional win for the Flying Fijians who had been in a bubble since Easter and hadn’t seen their family.

For the ABs 7s, the gold medal match was a chance to redeem themselves from their quarterfinal loss to Fiji in Rio (12-7), where they finished fifth, but they had a monumental task up against them considering Fiji was in top form and was undefeated. Even before the match began, the raw emotion from the Fijian team could be felt as players welled up singing their national anthem. It was Fiji’s day, as our boys ran in four tries to cap an excellent tournament. Fiji raced into a 12-0 lead, as Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala touched down in the opening three minutes.

All Blacks captain Scott Curry then crossed over for an unconverted try, but Fiji had fire in their bellies, and Jiuta Wainiqolo, who made his debut, beat two defenders with a rampaging run down the right wing side to score. Sione Molia showed great leg drive to power over the line after the half-time hooter, but Fiji dominated possession in the second period, and Asaeli Tuivuaka crossed for the try that sealed the win. Fiji then added a penalty to their tally. As they huddled together, the Fiji team broke out into song in the middle of the playing field, and after receiving their medals, the team broke out into a stirring rendition of a beautiful song. Fiji and NZ had battled out at the Oceania 7s in Townsville, and Fiji beat the All Blacks 21-19 and 17-7, respectively. Prior to these battles, the ABs 7s had defeated Fiji in 2018 twice.

They beat Fiji 14-0 in the Commonwealth Games 7s final, and in the semi-final of the RWC 7s 22-17.

However, last year in Sydney, Fiji hammered them 26-5, and knocked them out from the pool. The last time Fiji met the ABs 7s was in Vancouver on March 9 last year. I had watched that match with my mother, which ended in a lot of despair and pain, as Fiji went down 175. Unfortunately, that was the last match my beloved mother watched, as she slept away peacefully on that fateful Monday morning. Like me, she was a crazy and an ardent 7s fan, and she looked forward to the Olympic Games which was scheduled to be played last year. She would have been jumping with joy beside me, and celebrated Fiji’s epic win. This is one reason it was hard for me to contain my tears when the boys outclassed the ABs 7s in Tokyo. Such moments are experienced by true lovers of the 7s game.

A fluid Fijiana outfit defeated Team Great Britain to claim our first ever bronze medal in Olympic rugby 7s. After the win, former Fiji 7s Olympic Game gold medal winning coach Ben Ryan shared that Fiji’s 7s triumph was symbolic of their ‘work together, love one another’ spirit. An emotional coach Saiasi Fuli, described Fiji’s arduous route to an Olympic bronze medal.

The Fijiana had hoped to emulate their male counterpart and win gold, but they fell short against NZ. In 2016, the Fijiana finished eighth. Coached by Chris Cracknell, the likes of Raijieli Daveua, Litia Naiqato, Asena Rokomarama, Merewai Cumu, Rusila Nagasau, Timaima Tamoi, Lavenia Tinai, Rebecca Tavo, Ana Maria Roqica, Jiowana Sauto, Viniana Riwai, Luisa Tisolo and Timaima Ravisa flew our flag. In pool play, the Fijiana beat USA 12-7 and Colombia 36-0, but the girls were thrashed by Australia 36-0. In the medal play-offs, the Fijiana lost to Great Britain 26-7, and then they lost to USA 12-7 and Spain 21-0. The Fijiana finished seventh on the 2019/2020 HSBC Women’s WRSS overall points table with 38 points. The Fijiana managed two points in Glendale, eight points in Dubai, 10 points in Cape Town, six points in Hamilton and 12 points in Sydney. The Fijiana’s best finish was in Sydney where the girls beat England 17-5 to finish fifth. In the Oceania 7s, the Fijiana finished third behind the Black Ferns and Australia with 15 points. The Fijiana lost to Australia 31-17 and the Black Ferns 3314 and 27-12, but beat the Oceania Barbarians 21-12 and 14-12. They upset Australia 19-12.

Hence, heading to the Tokyo Olympic Games, few rugby pundits had given the Fijiana any hope of winning silverware. However, the Fijiana wrote a new chapter in Fiji’s rugby history. The Fijiana narrowly lost to eventual champions the Black