Failed style
KOLINISAU: SYSTEM GIVEN TO PLAYERS NOT WORKING
THE system given to 7s players is not working for them but they are being critised for it, says former Fiji 7s captain and Rio Olympics gold medallist Osea Kolinisau.
Fiji has been playing a new style of 7s rugby under head coach Ben Gollings.
Kolinisau said other teams were not as strong as we think they were, only Fiji had dropped in its standard.
“This has made other teams look good while we are starting to look like the other teams because we are playing to their standard,” Kolinisau said.
“Our Fijian style is unique to us. So, we should just find ways to get better at it,” Kolinisau said.
After 18 tournaments under the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (HSBC SVNS), Fiji is still hunting for a title.
The Fiji Airways men’s 7s side lost its 5th place playoff in the Vancouver 7s in Canada after going down to Ireland 24-19 in extra time.
The side also lost to New Zealand 21-19 in their quarter-final clash yesterday.
Kolinisau said the way the national team was heading concerned him as a fan.
He said Fijian players had their own flair and it should be upheld all the time.
Last week Gollings was responding to comments made by former World Rugby referee Rasta Rasivhenge that Fiji had lost its flair and style.
Gollings said he wanted to harness the way the Fijians played their style of rugby and did not want to play around with it too much.
“Don’t mess with the Fijian style,” Kolinisau said.
“That will be our problem, we are Fijians, the Fijian style is part of us.
He said he felt for the boys after heavy criticism against them.
“The boys are giving their best with a system that is not working for them,” Kolinisau said. “Fans start to attack them.” Meanwhile, the side is grouped in Pool C alongside France, Great Britain and Canada at the Los Angeles 7s in USA this weekend.