Back in ‘sevens mode’

FIJIAN 7s head coach Gareth Baber has set up a system to get Europe-based Semi Radradra, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu back into ‘sevens mode’ as the team prepares to defend its gold medal status at the Olympic Games later this month.

He said Radradra, Tuimaba and Botitu were healthy and he has held one on one sessions with them, sharing information to get them up to speed with the team’s preparations.

Baber said it would be “a bit of a test and a challenge to get them where they need to be.”

“Obviously, you need to give them the chance to become part of the group again,” he said.

“We have done that with a couple of exercises off the field. They are settling in well and we will see how the week goes.

“I will follow a similar system to see how they graduate back in the group. They are learning and we will go in with some games this week.”

He said the side would mimic game day situations during training sessions this week to see how the players managed themselves.

Baber said the team would remain and train in Oita City, Japan, until next Thursday before flying to Tokyo and entering the games village the following day.

Fiji is in Pool B with Japan, Great Britain and Canada. Pool A has New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and South Korea while Pool C includes South Africa, US, Kenya and Ireland.

Baber said there was confidence in the team and they were happy with where they were at.

“We will mimic the timings for the Olympics and it is something that we have done several times back in Fiji.

“We will create a mental vision going into the Olympics around how you manage yourself on the game day and play.

“After this weekend we will train here on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week before we fly to Tokyo on Thursday.

“We will be there on Thursday afternoon and we will move into the games village on Friday.”

The Tokyo Olympic Games will start on July 23 to August 8.