Fiji men’s 7s coach Osea Kolinisau has acknowledged the demanding nature of the new HSBC SVNS format, emphasizing the increased importance of consistency and defensive discipline. Following a tense 26–19 victory over France, which secured third place in Cape Town, Kolinisau admitted that the team did not meet their goal of advancing further in the tournament, but he commended the players for their resilience under pressure.
Kolinisau expressed satisfaction with the squad’s performance against France, despite feelings of disappointment. He recognized the revamped series structure, where the stakes of every pool match feel akin to knockout rounds, as particularly unforgiving. “This format is tough, and we try to stay consistent,” he noted. “We weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be, but I’m glad we secured points in this last game.”
The coach pointed out that Argentina had taken advantage of Fiji’s mistakes during their cup quarter-final. However, he praised his team’s ability to regroup quickly. “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 stated.
As the team looks ahead, Kolinisau stressed that a key focus will be enhancing their defensive strategies, a point he has underscored in recent weeks. After the tournament in Cape Town, Fiji leaves with a solid standing, tied on 32 points with South Africa and New Zealand at the top of the men’s rankings after the opening two legs. This promising start suggests that with continued effort, Fiji’s team can strengthen their performance in the upcoming matches.