FIJI Airways Fijiana head coach Richard Walker has called for his team to enhance their performance following a challenging start at the Perth 7s, where they faced consecutive losses in the pool stage. Walker highlighted key areas for improvement, specifically focusing on kickoffs, setting offloads, and ball presentation as essential elements requiring attention.
In their opening match against the United States, the Fijiana fell short with a score of 34-15. Despite an early advantage thanks to a try from Reapi Ulunisau when the USA was briefly down to six players, the American side quickly regrouped. They capitalized on opportunities, with speedsters Ariana Ramsey and Susan Adegoke crossing the line for two tries before halftime. The Fijiana managed to respond with tries from Ulunisau and Kolora Lomani, but late efforts from the USA secured their victory.
The Fijiana struggled further in their second pool game, facing New Zealand, where they suffered a heavy 36-5 defeat. The team had a difficult time establishing their rhythm, failing to score for more than 13 minutes and making critical errors against a strong defensive unit. Captain Verenaisi Ditavutu finally broke through to score, though it came only in the closing moments of the match, leaving the Fijiana still in search of their first tournament win.
Walker remains optimistic that with focused training on specific skills, the team can turn things around in the remaining matches. He expressed confidence that enhancing these fundamental aspects of their play could lead to better results in future competitions, highlighting the team’s potential to bounce back.