Fiji’s sevens campaign yet to start

FIJI – Fiji’s interim-sevens coach has sent out a warning to the world series teams, saying Fiji may have lost out on titles in Dubai and Cape Town but there is plenty of opportunity to contend for a third consecutive series title.

The defending champs and Olympic Gold medallists finished 2nd and 5th during the first two rounds but coach Naca Cawanibuka said the same thing happened in 2014 and they still came out on top at the end of the season.

“You know we lost the battle of those two tournaments but really the war has just begun for this series,” he said.

“It’s going to be a long, hard grind. Teams are going to lose key players. For us, we are going to have to keep the momentum going and make sure we finish about semi-finals and finals of every tournament and try and win as many tournaments as we can and try and keep as many of our top players playing on the field as long as possible and minimising injury.”

However Cawanibuka recognised his team will have to get fitter to win a third consecutive world series title.

He said the team will be working on their fitness now they are back in Fiji.

“We didn’t have a good preparation for Dubai compared to the last two or three seasons so the players had about one or two weeks to prepare and go out there and perform in those two tournaments,” Cawanibuka said.

“So far we are giving them this week off and then next week get back into training. In terms of their preparation we want them to lift in terms of their physical fitness.”

Cawanibuka said they will also be working on their defence which needs improving.

The start of Gordon Tietjens’ tenure as Samoan sevens coach is a script writer’s dream.

Meanwhile, the former New Zealand sevens coach’s first game in charge of Manu Samoa will be against his old side at next month’s Wellington Sevens.

Two of his former players Tomasi Cama and Scott Waldrom will be sitting on the opposition bench, currently in charge of the All Blacks Sevens.

Samoa’s had a poor start to their season, finishing 15th and 10th in Dubai and Cape Town respectively.

There will also be a point to prove for Tietjens, who had been prevented from taking up his Samoan coaching job until January 1 by New Zealand Rugby.

“I did find it a bit hurtful, to be told I couldn’t go to Samoa to coach and that I would effectively miss the first two tournaments – I thought maybe 22 years would count for something.”

-PNC