The recent HSBC SVNS tournaments held in Dubai and Cape Town have highlighted both the potential and challenges faced by the Fiji Airways National 7s team. After reaching the semi-finals in both events and securing bronze medals, Fiji has emerged as a consistent performer, showcasing their ability to compete at a high level.
The competition’s new format, featuring eight teams in six events, has intensified the stakes, making each pool match vital. Fans are treated to an exciting display of rugby, as every game resembles a final with no easy opponents, underscoring the high-caliber nature of the tournaments.
Throughout the tournaments, glimpses of Fiji’s traditional flair were evident. The team’s commanding performances, particularly their overwhelming victory against Dubai champions New Zealand (35-5) and their thrilling win over France in the bronze match, signify a squad that is starting to regain its rhythm. Nonetheless, achieving greater success requires a focus on technical improvements.
Securing semi-final spots consecutively is indicative of the team’s strong performance against formidable rivals, highlighting their ability to win against expected opponents while remaining competitive with the best. However, overcoming the small discrepancies that led to their semi-final defeats in both tournaments will be key to progressing.
Key areas of focus for improvement include tackling and defence, where lapses have led to opponents exploiting gaps for critical scores. Ensuring a robust engagement in tackles and implementing effective defensive patterns, as emphasized by Coach Osea Kolinisau, will be essential for reducing penalties and cards.
Decision-making remains crucial for the team, affecting both attack and defense. Players must improve their choices on the field, particularly when it comes to rucking and maintaining possession. The breakdown is vital in Sevens rugby, and enhancing work rates at this stage will significantly benefit Fiji’s gameplay.
Moreover, fresh talent is emerging from local tournaments, with players like Devo Barbarians’ Etuate Qalibau catching attention. His combination of finesse and defensive capability, showcased during the Super 7 Sevens tournament, could provide the team with dynamic playmaking ability. Qalibau’s understanding of game situations and capacity to adapt his play, whether to accelerate or hold back, presents an exciting opportunity for the squad.
As Fiji strives for consistency with back-to-back semi-final appearances, the focus now shifts to finding solutions to elevate their game. Incorporating promising players like Qalibau may be the catalyst needed to transition from bronze to gold in future competitions, particularly with the next major event in Singapore coming up in early February. The spirit and potential of the Flying Fijian sevens team sustain hope for a strong showing as they look toward the future.