Go Fiji, go
YESTERDAY certainly wasn’t one of those days many 7s fans would have fond memories of.
Missed tackles and indiscipline cost us the game against Argentina for the second time in a week on the World Rugby 7s series.
Just when we thought we’d get a foot out the door of dismal campaigns, Argentina came off with a blinder in the dying minutes of the Cup quarter-finals in Vancouver.
We succumbed 14-19 to a side that certainly knew which buttons to press against us.
They attacked our defensive shape, kept it under pressure, manipulated openings and got the winner in the end. Now this is what the game has evolved into. Videos, live updates, and live feedback from the field and on livestreaming have boosted the arsenal of most teams.
They have had tournaments to monitor changes we have made in our team, monitor the calibre of players we have, and address their strengths to nullify our game.
It’s just the way things are right now.
So unfortunately, we have a platform that has actually grown, where every team is now better equipped to tackle Fiji.
The Pumas’ victory over our team came in the wake of their earlier 20-17 win over Fiji at the USA 7s.
We note that South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, all in the top four in the world, all failed to survive the second day of the Vancouver tournament.
The key to breaking a 14-all scoreline was a late tackle that earned Fiji a yellow card and sent Argentina’s Moneta diving over for a try to send his team into the last four for the third time this season.
We are now scheduled to play USA in the fifth place semi-final at 8.30am today.
The side has not won a tournament on the series – the Hong Kong 7s final last November was our best finish to date.
So as we look ahead to the clash against the Eagles, we have a challenge before us, to knuckle down and live up to expectations.
Fiji fans are patriotic and vocal. And they are demanding. There is an expectation Fiji fans have, and it raises the national side onto the highest pedestal.
Every player who dons the national jersey carries this huge expectation on their shoulders every time they run onto the field.
Sevens rugby is like a bridge. It unites people. It has the potential to bring the nation together, cutting through every imaginary demarcation line. When Fiji plays, and performs well, differences are cast aside. These imaginary demarcation lines count for nought. Ethnicity, religion, and gender are left by the wayside! We have come together on many happy occasions in support of our national 7s side.
We now face the reality that teams have caught up with us. We have our strengths in unorthodox rugby, breathtaking flair, pace and aggression. The key is finding the rhythm we know can separate us from the rest of the field. That will mean belief in our systems, motivation and discipline!
It is frustrating, and does raise anger, however, times have changed, and national coach Ben Gollings must make things happen. He knows that! We still say, go Fiji, go!