Former Fiji 7s captain Isake Katonibau has expressed strong support for Osea Kolinisau, the current head coach of the Fiji men’s 7s team. Katonibau, who played alongside Kolinisau during the HSBC Sevens World Series a decade ago under the coaching of Ben Ryan, believes Kolinisau has made significant strides in enhancing the team’s performance.
In a recent conversation at Bidesi Park in Suva, where he was helping a local rugby team prepare for an upcoming tournament, Katonibau praised Kolinisau’s coaching abilities. “Oscar (Osea) Kolinisau has been doing a remarkable, really good job with the Fiji 7s team,” he remarked. He noted the noticeable improvements in the team’s play over the past two years, particularly in their recent semi-final appearance at the Dubai 7s, where they narrowly lost to New Zealand 21-24.
Katonibau highlighted the enhancements in both the defensive and offensive strategies under Kolinisau’s leadership, particularly praising the team’s alignment during offloading plays, which he feels contributes to their success on the field. While he acknowledges that there is still room for improvement, he remains optimistic about Kolinisau and the team’s ability to improve.
As the Fiji team looks ahead to the Cape Town 7s, which kicks off tomorrow, Katonibau has conveyed his best wishes and emphasized the importance of mental readiness and recovery for the players. Fiji’s last victory at the Cape Town 7s dates back to 2018, when they defeated the United States 29-15 in the cup final.
In their upcoming matches, Fiji will face South Africa, Great Britain, and New Zealand, starting with their opening pool match against the hosts on Saturday at 10:44 PM. With anticipation building ahead of the tournament, there is a hopeful outlook for the national team to break their seven-year cup trophy drought.