SA, Kiwis eye Sevens divas

RIO DE JANEIRO: The muchanticipated clash starts today – all the titans from the World Sevens Series locking horns one more time this season.

The Sevens has attracted plenty of interest from across the Olympic community, as it combines many of the virtues and ideals of the Games.

This is the code’s time to shine, and it is fair to say almost every team has been itching to get on the park.

Well, almost every team. While their rivals have all been in the village, soaking up the buzz of their compatriots’ successes in other codes, Fiji’s giants have been conspicuous by their conveniently belated arrival.

While South Africa, New Zealand and the like have slotted into their team villages, Fiji have been on a luxury resort on the South American coast, soaking up the sun and the saunas.

The jaunt has come at great personal cost to the one set of people who the Olympics is about – their fellow athletes.

While the Sevens squad has been living it up, their tab was picked up by a flock of individual stars who depend on state funding.

Divas

All of them saw their budgets cut by 40% this year, to ensure that the Sevens divas are pampered. Even if Fiji rise to the occasion, theirs may be the least celebrated triumph in the team village.

It’s a bizarre situation, especially as the islanders are usually one of the most popular teams in each tournament.

Now, after their excess, they most certainly have to impress.

Their main rivals, the Kiwis and the South Africans, will be hoping to catch them napping.

“Our only focus is our opening match against Spain,” SA coach Neil Powell has maintained.

“We are looking at nothing else beyond that.”

If all goes according to form, New Zealand should