Rugby 7s: A fantastic journey started last night where victory has eluded our nation since sevens became part of the Commonwealth Games in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The men’s side’s best finish has been second (silver medal) at three games. Head coach Ben Gollings leads our campaign this weekend and hopes to add the Midas touch – on the soil for which he turned out in white in his playing days – to turn everything gold for the Olympic champion, Fiji.
We will sail through pool play perhaps without much trouble, but the pressure will be on from the semi-finals onwards.
If the recent Oceania Champs is anything to go by Fiji 7s will have its work cut out. We have a power-packed side and the inclusion of Sireli Maqala and Aminiasi Tuimaba will provide some much-needed depth and strength in the backline.
Kaminieli Rasaku should add the spark while Captain Wise has to be the general playmaker. Big game playerJerry Tuwai is worldclass and I expect nothing short from the two-time Olympic gold medal winner in Birmingham.
He is a match winner and his leadership, experience and exceptional skills will matter so much for the team in its quest for gold. Tuwai is worthy of knighthood status if he can guide Fiji to the gold medal podium.
No player in the world has two Olympic gold medals – add the Commonwealth gold piece (fingers crossed) – that’ll take at least another decade-plus for any other player to match that feat. Sir Jerry Tuwai – just wow.
I guess we have the forwards to do the job and Vakurinabili, Daugunu along with Kunatani need to be firing from all cylinders if we are to reach the golden point.
The Fijians will need to be sharp in new kicks, competitive at breakdowns, clinical in set-piece play, brutal in defence, and pack speed when needed for end-to-end finishing.
The Fijiana, I hope, are there and thereabouts and probably within touching distance of a medal finish, but their passage to the top three will be tougher.
Head coach Saiasi Fuli has prepared the side well from the reports that I have got and his troops to be led by inspirational Rusila Nagasau will be looking to rock the women’s 7s world in a repeat of their performance from Tokyo 2021.
I hope for some special news on Monday morning and it would be great to have mushrooms on the toast if Fiji and Fijiana get on the medal podium.
Skipper Cup Final:
All roads will lead to Prince Charles Park for today’s epic final between Nadi and Naitasiri. Be ready to add another page in the domestic rugby history book because Nadi will be aiming for their first win since 2008 and Naitasiri since 2010 – that’s a decadeplus for both sides.
It’s a fitting final as the top two sides after round-robin play are in the final to decide the Skipper Cup champion for 2022. The home side Nadi has suffered a setback with their star flankers, Jolame Luvevou and Ilisoni Galala ruled out of the final as both are in Georgia to pursue professional club contracts.
Luvevou’s aggressiveness in attack and defence plus his sound leadership will be sorely missed. Galala on the other hand has been the form openside flanker in the national competition and his abilities at breakdown and general play will be a huge setback for the jet setters.
Nadi’s coaching staff are downplaying the absence of Luvevou and Galala, but rugby followers know that the dynamic numbers 6 and 7 have left some big shoes to fill in the final clash against Naitasiri.
Skipper Turuva Lumelume – one of two survivors of that 2008 victory – will need to run for 80 minutes and pack a big game backing it up after a tough semifinal match last week. How this fair on the bodies of the players will be known on Saturday and their mend over the week in rest and recovery.
Nadi’s front row will be tested against a formidable Naitasiri front three while tall timber Chris Minimbi will highly likely have his way in the second row.
Nadroga man Naitasiri openside flanker Jone Navori is expected to be the king at breakdowns as he had a brilliant outing in the semifinal win over the Stallions last week.
The halves combination of Anasa Raqili and Kini Douglas is expected to have a field day with quality ball and their direction should guide the hillmen better in back play over their foes.
The return of stocky Vilive Aria at second-five for Nadi should steady their midfield, but I feel the power and skills of Peni Tubuna and Filimoni Waqainabete should have the edge in that battle. The back three of both sides are good.
The home side boasts two great wingers Jope Naseyara and Tevita Mociu while Kitione Taliga is a class act and his line kicking and goal kicks plus that deceptive running ability from the back should see him injecting fire-power and pace for Nadi.
Taliga and Naseyara are good ball runners and Naitasiri defence will have to watch out if they get some quality possession. Naitasiri’s back three have been performing very well in crunch games recently and Viliame Kanatabua, Kaliova Mocetadra and super-boot Etonia Rokotuisawa will be up to back up their show from that big semi-final win over Nadroga last week v Nadi tomorrow.
Rokotuisawa, 31, will be the trump card for Naitasiri and Nadi will need to be careful with discipline because Mana will punish them with his kicking prowess if it comes to that. He put on a man-ofthematch show last week to slot 20 points between the sticks including the tie-breaker penalty in extra time last Saturday.
We are in for an epic Skipper Cup final – one that’s taken 14 years to happen as it was in 2008 when Nadi and Naitasiri last met in the national championship decider.
I don’t expect anything less than fireworks in the big clash. The hillmen are ready to rumble at Prince Charles Park and get the victory for the first time in 12 years or will we see the sleeping giant finally wake up to claim glory in this competition after a long 14 years.
My pick will be Naitasiri to win, but I guess Nadi will be lurking just a close shave behind in betting odds and if they snap up the opportunities, who knows what’ll happen, but for sure the champion will be decided only after the dust settles at a rock hard Prince Charles Park arena.
OFC Nations women’s final:
What a fairy tale run to the final for the Fiji Kulas it has been as they lineup against favourites Papua New Guinea in Suva tonight.
It’s great to see how women’s football has grown over the last couple of years and even greater to see the results turn out in our favour in pool play and the play-off games to date.
Now the Lisa Cole coached side is a game away from advancing as the Oceania champions into the next stage of qualifiers for the World Cup.
It won’t be easy as the PNG girls will be looking to win for their country which is going through so much at the moment.
Go the Kulas and all the best in the final. The only way is up from here and putting Fiji on the world map in the game – just like the netball side produced last week.
Enjoy the great weekend of sport and looking forward to more in the new month with the Commonwealth Games continuing, the Rugby Championships are back along with the start of the Premier League. Stay safe, have a great weekend.
• SATISH NARAIN is a sports commentator with FBC. The views expressed are the author’s and do not reflect the views of this newspaper or his employer.
