FIJI Airways Fiji men’s 7s captain Jerry Matana has acknowledged the pressure his side will face as they head into the Perth 7s this weekend, following their title-winning performance in Singapore last week.
Matana said the victory has lifted expectations around the team, but stressed the players are focused on staying grounded and approaching the tournament with the same mindset.
“We know what the expectations will be, but we will play the Perth tournament just like any other tournament we have played,” said Matana.
He added that while winning brings confidence, it also comes with added responsibility when defending championship status.
“Winning is one thing but the pressure of keeping the champions tag is another thing. The boys will talk about this, and I’m sure come the game day we will be ready to go,” he added.
Fiji have been drawn in a challenging pool alongside Argentina, Spain and South Africa.
The coaching staff believe consistency and discipline will be key across the demanding Perth schedule weekend.
The men’s side will begin their Perth 7s campaign against Argentina at 4.20pm on Saturday, before meeting Spain at 7.36pm.
They will then close out pool play with a late-night clash against South Africa at 10.52pm.
Meanwhile, the Fijiana team face a tough schedule in Perth.
They open against the USA at 2.30pm, meet New Zealand at 5.58pm, and play Japan at 8.52pm.
