Fiji eye title as SA seek to bounce back

FIJI head into the ninth and final round of this season’s rugby Sevens World Series in London eyeing a first overall title since 2006.

The Pacific Islanders have long been renowned for their skills in the abbreviated form of the game and will be looking to put them on show in front of what is set to be a capacity crowd at Twickenham this weekend.

Fresh from their victory in last week’s Glasgow Sevens, Fiji have 147 points in the overall standings, with South Africa second on 142.

New Zealand, the four-time defending World Series champions, will need a very special 48 hours in London if they are to win a 13th overall title, as they currently sit third with 139 points.

But all three sides have already secured a major prize in that they’ve automatically qualified for next year’s Olympics in Rio, where rugby sevens will make its Games debut.

Nevertheless, winning this season’s overall title would mean a tremendous amount to Fiji, who will look to carry on from where they left off in Scotland.

“We played as a team on the weekend and we are proud of that,” Fiji captain Osea Kolinisau told the World Rugby website.

“It would be really special to win the World Series title.”

South Africa had led the series since the second round but the pressure appeared to get them in Glasgow where they failed to make the semifinals for the first time this season.

But skipper Kyle Brown is confident his side will learn quickly from that experience as they look to deliver the Blitzboks’ first overall title since 2009. – AFP