EXPECT some explosive Fijian rugby this weekend as Fiji Airways Sevens coach Gareth Baber has gone for speed in his squad for the Sydney Sevens
Army’s Alusio Naduva and Apete Daveta are expected to hit the ground running and will immediately be a hit with fans.
Daveta is the bustling Jack-in-the-Box type of player who is difficult to keep down in a tackle and keeps running and moving and thrives in both tight situations and open spaces.
Naduva has an eye for gaps and has a good swerve to run around opposition defenders.
With tackle breakers like Amenoni Nasilasila in the side, Jerry Tuwai, and other speedsters like Eroni Sau and Waisea Nacuqu we have an explosive line-up that will be a handful for opposition defenders.
Nasilasila’s impressive tackle count in Cape Town makes him the most important ingredient in Fiji’s defence.
In the eighties Nadi speedster Senivalati Laulau became the fastest winger and was popular in Hong Kong too and even New Zealand borrowed him in a final after Fiji was knocked out in the semis.
He even caught international headlines in 1980 when he intercepted a ball in his 22-metre line and ran back around the goalpost before outpacing the whole opposition team of a provincial side in the Fiji XV tour of Argentina.
But when Fijian hotelier cum sevens coach Ian Duncan took his team in 1984 to Hong Kong he had Laulau at rover and Etuate Honda Gusuivalu at winger and they became an instant hit.
The Kiwis playing as New Zealand All Black Sevens for the first time were thrashed 26-0 in the final.
We do not know how Baber will use three speedsters in Daveta, Raduva and Sau in his line-up but Sau and Daveta have not only been sensational with Senirusi Seruvakula’s Fiji Airways Drua side playing at winger but at inside centre also.
So a lot of speed will be available on the bench too and the opening clash with New Zealand will be a mouth-watering match-up to look forward to.
Strict diet has also been part of team preparation for this leg. Proper diet makes a big difference in sevens rugby tournaments and that is why First Light and Cross of Victory have been able to break into the top line-up of quarter-finalists in local competition.
Defending Mana Whey Fiji Coral Coast champion First Light last year came out of the blue to snatch the title from known sevens champions of the code.
Their secret was the light diet which made them survive longer in the gruelling tournament as they only had two full meals and smacked fruit for lunch. They changed to three meals this year and were outpointed by a smart Police team in the final.
Last Saturday Police led by veteran Sitiveni Waqa countered their kick-off well and denied them possession and did what the islanders did to tournament favourites Ratu Filise in the semi-final winning 19-0. Such is the nature of sevens rugby.
Fans are thankful that our national sevens officials have revealed that the team were also undergoing strict diet as they showed too much bulk in the last leg and overeating was a problem, inside sources revealed.
Diet, a good recovery program of ice bath installed outside Lawaqa stadium ensured teams were properly recovered between matches last weekend.
A proper big tub for ice and several showers. It looked professional.
When I first introduced ice baths to Nadroga in 2002 the late Tevita Makutu was coach and we had to borrow 44-gallon drums from Lawaqa to be used in the camp at Nasama Village.
The big props just fitted with iced water up to their thighs and waist but it did the job.
Last year’s champion side First Light had split into two this year and some players had formed the Cross of Victory while players from other clubs like Uluinakau have strengthened their side last weekend.
Last year we hosted them at home in Rukurukulevu Village and sent the crew down to help in preparing food.
It was easy catering for them as they only had fruit for lunch and they had small food canteens that was rationed for their dinner.
They are not bulky but still powerful in tackles and quick and light on their feet which makes all the difference in long tournaments.
However, teams such as Ratu Filise, Saunaka, Police and Davetalevu were aware of these factors and banked more on their physicality.
Davetalevu manager Eapi Deku said the side had prepared well before Christmas and they lost form during the break and tried to regain their form and came short. They stretched the defending champions 17-19 in the final pool game and ended up winning the Bowl competition. Their pool mates Police and First Light played out the final.
Baber, Waisale Serevi, Ben Ryan, DJ Forbes and even Rasta Rashivenge were impressed with the level of competition and show of professionalism by team officials in team preparation.
It definitely showed we are ready for any international tournaments.
Last Saturday I decided to brave the hot sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain and then hot sunshine again on the embankment without an umbrella at Lawaqa like the hundreds who could not get into the packed stadium.
It was like a sauna bath or hot and cold session players go through but with your clothes on.
However the guys who needed the sun tan were in the shade cooling off with their beers in the VIP area including the tourists. Since we’ve had our tan since the day we were born, the positives the locals like me got out of it were an extra dose of vitamin E from hot sunshine, medical sources say prevents heart attacks.
A plastic full of hila katakata (hot corn) and watermelon for lunch leaves you rejuvenated after the final whistle, for any challenge that usually comes after that.
