It is a known fact that every time the Fiji 7s team takes the world stage, fans around the world expect nothing less than a win and climb Fiji as a clear favorite and unstoppable. We are considered the kings of the shortened form of rugby with a natural flair, fascinating skill and sheer speed, world class and top drawer.
All the verbal sparring between the heavyweights such as Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, Great Britain, USA and Australia, that started almost 18 months ago and after a year of postponement, we will step into the ring and fight for gold at the biggest sporting event in the world, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And all eyes will be on Fiji favorites when the pool games begin on Monday 26th for three consecutive days.
The 2016 gold medal win in Rio, 43-7 in the final against Great Britain, was the biggest What could happen to Fiji rugby is simply branded as the best performance for the game in the country.
But we have to acknowledge that the successes in the 1997 and 2005 World Cup seven are also high because at that time Rugby wasn’t an Olympic sport.
Fiji’s most famous rugby son, Waisale Serevi, was the king and brains behind both RWC-7 wins and many victories around the world. His uncanny abilities, the ability to master and stimulate the goose-step introduced by David Campese, are unparalleled on the world stage to this day.
In the past decade, Jerry Tuwai has risen to become the 7s superstar, in fact he became one World Rugby-organized social media voting prize crowned 7s Player of the Decade.
Buca, Cakaudrove man, Tuwai hopes to lead the team to victory in Tokyo and double their name with double gold at consecutive Olympics to be entered in the World Rugby History Book.
Kitione Taliga, who will be called up during the tournament, is the second man to show the same performance.
Trainer Ben Ryan was clinical groundwork and his lively skipper , Osea Kolinisau, set a good example.
Oscar’s ability to translate Ben’s game plan into the local language before kick-off and instructions at halftime was one of the key pillars his gold success.
Oscar was supported by a gang of well-known hard knocks in the game, an experienced stick – who knew their job description like a crystal glass.
The strength, attitude and mana that Leone Nakarawa, Jasa Veremalua , Josua Tuisova, Semi Kunatani, Viliame Mata have shown in Rio, together with the skills of Tuwai, Vatemo Ravouvou and Samisoni Viriviri have not been repeated by either side in a major event, e.g. the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup.
Gareth brought the heavy artillery to the Commonwealth Games 2018 on the Gold Coast, but our team managed to beat South Africa in the semi-finals in extra time after a fight in the last pool game against Wales, and lost to New Zealand 14-0 in the final.
Three players from this silver medal win, Tuwai, Nasoko and Vakurinabili, are in Tokyo. I think our best chance of cracking the gold duck in the Commonwealth was Melbourne in 2006, especially after winning the 2005 World Cup. That year I saw the team settle for bronze under Serevi’s leadership. </ Back to the 7s of the 2018 World Cup, and after the painful defeat in Gold Coast, all eyes were on San Francisco, USA.
The Tuwai-led team included tested stars of the game, including blockbuster Semi Radradra – in fact was this is perhaps the best team in my books gathered to represent the nation in the modern era of rugby 7.
I made sure I made the trip to the stands at AT&T Park and put it up turned out to be disappointing as our team ended up outside of a medal placement – fourth. On a great Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, the arena filled by thousands of Fijians and there were probably more blue flags than people in the stands, under the blazing sun and scorching heat, Fiji was smoked in the semifinals against New Zealand 22-17 and then humiliated by South Africa 24-19 in the bronze match. New Zealand won the Melrose Cup and defeated England 33:12 in the final.
Tuwai, who led this campaign with Nasoko, and Radradra from the San Francisco World Cup team are in Tokyo this week.
Gareth as Coach and Tuwai as captain turned out to be an unsuccessful combination at both tournaments in 2018 and something that will surely make them get it right for the third time in a major tournament.
A Tokyo Gold could lead to that the FRU comes out with the checkbook and Gareth offers the job for another four years so he can get the second shot at the Commonwealth and World Cup and back to the 2024 Olympics. I have to pack my bags.
Fiji won the Oceania tournament in Townsville last month with a string of wins, which is morale as it’s always great to get back on the road to winning, especially after a nearly 17 month long one Break from international competition.
What we need to know is that our team only had one in the last World Sevens Series, which had six tournaments from December 2019 to March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the series Tournament victory.
Fiji won in Sydney in February 2020, while New Zealand won three (Cape Town, Hamilton, Vancouver) and South Africa two (Dubai, Los Angeles).
This is now history for our boys, chosen to carry our hopes in Tokyo. They have the chance to write their own story this week.
Without a doubt, the weight of a nation rests on the shoulders of the selected 13 and coach Gareth Baber.
This is an enormous challenge.
This is a tournament that Fijian fans want our team to win. The pressure of expectation cannot be measured. In fact, the fact that social media is now a big deal not only increases the pressure but also decreases both possibilities as many fans use social platforms to destroy the players and the team, which can be harmful and mentally affect the individual .
Though at the elite level, management mostly has a plan to control these things, and they have learned techniques how to operate in the past five to six years with the rapidly growing social media space Motivating the run-up and sorting out negative things can lead to important games and tournaments.
This tournament preparation was also different, our team had to get into a bubble and continue training after the second wave of COVID-19 hit the country in April before it set out for Townsville and was quarantined before the Oceania 7s, and eventually to Oita with more quarantine and restrictions – players must itch to get on with the job .
Much has been said about the game plan and what we need to do. I think Gareth worked that out and picked the players that fit into his plan.
We have to get the basics right and not get into the structured play that most opposing teams could employ. Let’s play with our natural flair, the dangerous expansions that make opponents chase us.
And as the world knows – you can’t coach Fijians because like no other side they know how to get into 7s creates magic.
Jerry Tuwai is in the hot seat, I usually compare this job to that of an airplane captain – his leadership is vital. The skipper has to be in top form – decision-maker, quick thinking, clear communication with his team, situational awareness, calm and prudence under pressure, mental strength – self-confidence, attitude and self-discipline – and, above all, to fire the troops when things are going well , and to add more fuel to the fire when the chips are down.
Trainer Gareth will have to manage Tuwai’s game in Tokyo as he used the skipper in previous pool games and included the expected tip of the pool decision Great Britain including the knockout games. I want Tuwai, 32, to play no more than 8 minutes against Japan and a half game against Canada on Day 1, depending on how we go in both games.
On Day 2 we have to be at our best against Great Britain and depending on how we’re running in the last 4 minutes of this game, he may be rested. Welcome to medal knockout rugby and I expect Fiji to reach the top of Pool B and meet the best third-placed finishers in the quarter-finals, in its current form probably Australia, Argentina, Ireland or Kenya. And Tuwai will have to take the lead again on a possibly difficult second day with tough games in a row.
Day 3, apart from a quarter-finals surprise on Tuesday evening, Fiji could possibly face South Africa or the USA in the semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon. And on paper in the top half of the draw, New Zealand, if they guarantee the top spot in Pool A they should get to the gold medal final.
I’m also installing USA as a site to see. The Eagles have a solid preparation and a lot of experience paired with strength and speed. Steam rollers like Danny Barrett, Matai Leuta, Martin Iosefo and Stephen Tomasin, with Captain Madison Hughes behind them, including playmaker Folau Niua and speed dealers Perry Baker and Carlin Isles – that’s a side Mike will have side punching for gold on Fridays .
South Africa should be there or around with the biggest question of how it would be isolated with inspiring trainer Neil Powell after testing COVID positive and won’t be on the sidelines and at halftime. Seasoned stars Chris Dry, Justin Geduld, Branco du Preez, the stunning Selvyn Davids, Stedman Gans and the speed of captain Siviwe Soyizwapi have to pick up after setbacks. And they’ll be looking to give back to their fans after seeing Siya Kolisi and the Springboks go down in an incredible first test against Britain’s & Irish Lions 22-17 on Sunday.
Britain has a lot of stars – nobody taller than the world’s top try scorer Dan Norton – and while expected to fight Fiji in the Pool B decision, if the GBs finish second, they could reach a quarter-finals against either South Africa or the US . This is a big time for them on Day 2.
Host Japan, which has a good pool of Fijian players including Namatakula lad Lote Tuqiri, and reloading winner Ireland with the try-scoring sensation, Jordon Conroy, are my external positions to electrify the rugby world in Tokyo.
A final of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, New Zealand (first place) against Fiji (second place) will overwhelm the rugby gods and form books and have the fans of the World 7s on their feet.
This final, again without the staggering of the apple cart will be the greatest spectacle in rugby 7s, in my books you can talk about it next to the great fights between the nations 1990-1992 in Hong Kong and also the famous final of the 7th World Cup in 2005 – mind you, they were all from Fiji won.
Tuwai is supported by former captains in the squad and, I’m sure, players who deserve a place in the top seven – Kalione Nasoko, Meli Derenalagi alongside Radradra. I think Radradra’s mana and leadership skills, on and off the field, will be an integral part of Fiji’s quest for gold in Tokyo this week. A professional and Fiji’s most respected player on the world stage, he was in hot shape for Bristol recently and showed his commitment by competing in a 7s tournament in the UK to train and play before flying to Tokyo. It will be a dream come true and the first big world event of this magnitude, by far the biggest tournament of their lives for Iosefo Masi, Napolioni Bolaca, Waisea Nacuqu, Vilimoni Botitu, Aminiasi Tuimaba, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Vakurinabili and Asaeli Tuivuaka, and if they are The 13th man Sireli Maqala offers the opportunity.
For these players the possibility is on the menu to write their name in history and hopefully the home players will be noticed by foreign scouts and receive a professional contract, that’s the i – The icing on the cake for your personal career.
We saw a lot of victories in Hong Kong dedicated to our kids when the 7s fell on Palm Sunday, Waisale Serevi did this during the 7th of the 2005 World Cup. In fact, his morning devotional focused on how the country’s children are their biggest and most loyal fans and that the team couldn’t disappoint them and must win for them when he cheered the troop on on the third and final day.
I was Part of this morning session at Marco Polo in Hong Kong and could feel that there was something special in the air for that day.
The morning look on the players’ faces quickly changed to that of an obsessed man and when you were in the Being close to players like the « Mannberg » Semisi Naevo, Iferemi Rawaqa, Apolosi and Viliame Satala, Vilimoni Delasau, Marika Vunibaka and Sireli Bobo is creepy stuff and priceless moments. We need such talks from Tuwai, Nasoko and Radradra in Tokyo.
The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in Fiji with an exponential increase in positive cases, deaths, job losses, our economy has taken a hit as revenues are out tourism, etc. A victory in Tokyo will put a smile on the face of all Fijians.
Rugby 7s connects everyone in emotion, for three days the nation is expected to stop as everyone is in front of their TVs or on their smartphones sit to cheer the boys on. Rugby is the most beautiful game that knows no culture, color or barriers, and Fiji needs something like that in these times.
Everywhere I have been in the last two to three weeks, 7s-Talk has been high on the agenda . Sevens is Fiji’s source of national pride, national identity, our culture, the rich history and tradition of the 7s, young and old are looking forward to something special this week and I am sure they will celebrate on Wednesday night. </ I'm expecting fireworks on Wednesday night as the rugby 7 arena is the only place the Olympic organizers need to have our national anthem saved on their PA system. What a proud moment it will be for every Fijian on this planet.
Mai Viti, Toso Viti
I’d like to end with a verse of this one song that ignites the rugby spirit, national pride and passion for the game. I hear this song before every major Fiji rugby game. Composed and sung in 2007 for the Rugby World Cup, where Fiji reached the quarter-finals in France, some star musicians under the direction of my classmate, former head boy of Suva Grammar and later co-host of Fiji TV 18:00 Major News & Sports Bulletin, the late Rusiate Nayacakalou:
O Fiji, always FijiLand of the Fijian BravesI love these islands, I do forever moreMy paradise, my home, because I can do everything through Christ who gives me the strengthO Fiji, always FijiLand of the Fijian Braves
Believe in yourself and back it up with a 100% show – it’s now up to our guys to deliver them in Tokyo.
All the best, Fiji 7s, show the world the magic of the game and bring the gold home.
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