Fiji men’s 7s coach Osea Kolinisau has highlighted the challenging nature of the new HSBC SVNS format, which has intensified the emphasis on consistency and defensive discipline. After a hard-fought 26–19 victory against France, which secured the team a third-place finish in Cape Town, Kolinisau acknowledged that while they fell short of their goal to progress further in the tournament, he was proud of his players’ resilience under duress.
Reflecting on the match against France, Kolinisau expressed contentment with the squad’s performance, even amid some disappointment. He underlined the harsh realities of the revamped series structure, where every pool match increasingly resembles a knockout round. “This format is tough, and we try to stay consistent,” he remarked. “We weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be, but I’m glad we secured points in this last game.”
The coach also pointed to Argentina’s ability to capitalize on Fiji’s errors during their cup quarter-final, yet he commended his team’s quick recovery. “Kudos to Argentina; they kept the ball away from us in the first half, and we made a lot of mistakes. We discussed what’s important, and we were determined to win against France to maintain our position at the top of the table,” he said.
As they look towards the future, Kolinisau emphasized the need to enhance their defensive strategies, a critical area he has stressed in recent weeks. Following the Cape Town tournament, Fiji sits in a strong position, tied on 32 points with South Africa and New Zealand at the top of the men’s rankings after the opening two legs. This encouraging start indicates that with continued focus and effort, Fiji’s team can build on their performances in the upcoming matches.