Baber answers selection critics
Fiji Airways Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber (left), says his 15-member squad were selected based on performance. He was responding to queries on why some players, like prop Rusiate Nasove and Kaminieli Rasaku, were dropped. He said Nasove and Rasaku were dropped becaue he felt they were not in top form.
There are still room for improvement ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan. This was the view of Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber during the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, yesterday.
The Fijian Shadow side walloped Vonokula 41-0 in their pool opener and later thrashed Paradise Beverages 57-0
Speaking to SUNsports Baber said, he had selected a 15-member team based on performance. He was replying to questions on why lanky prop Rusiate Nasove and Kaminieli Rasaku were dropped.
“Those boys were not included because I didn’t feel that they were in top form,” Baber said. “The 15 boys playing this weekend showed their worth during training and that’s why I selected them.”
Baber said the players dropped have gone back to play for their clubs and there is still a chance for them to show their worth. “The door is still open for them if they want to make it back to the squad,” he added.
The Olympics is from July 23 to August 8.
Baber added that there were a lot of good work done on the first day.
“It is always good to get a win in every first game.
“Whatever we do here is a replicate of what we are going to do in the end of July (at the Olympics. “We had some quality in our restarts, kick and chase together with the aerial battles.
“The boys functioned well in defence and made sure that we know where we are.”