Former Fiji 7s captain and forward Etonia Naba has a crucial piece of advice for the Fiji Airways men’s 7s team as they prepare for the upcoming Singapore 7s: embrace an aggressive approach. This call to action comes at a pivotal moment for the team, led by coach Osea Kolinisau, as they aim for gold next week.
Naba expressed his thoughts to Times Sport after witnessing the men’s cup final at the McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s in Sigatoka last week. He highlighted the need for the current team to significantly enhance their fitness levels and defensive strategies, particularly following the Fiji Babas’ lackluster performance during the Coral Coast 7s.
With the HSBC SVNS Series intensifying due to the new format allows the top two teams direct access to the semi-finals, Naba’s urgent message resonates even more. He stated, “They need to be aggressive because with all those teams we’ve seen here and the ones overseas, we really have to go up to them and tackle them. You have to be aggressive or if not they will just walk through.”
Naba previously coached the Ravuka Sharks of Yadua Village in Nadroga, a team known for its impressive track record at the Coral Coast, even defeating the NZ Development 7s team on two occasions.
Given that Fiji is the defending champion of the Singapore 7s, with a notable 21-12 victory over Kenya in last year’s final, Kolinisau and his team are acutely aware of the pressure to defend their title. The call for aggressiveness is not only a strategy but a rallying cry for the squad to rise to the occasion, aiming for a strong performance in Singapore.