THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team showed its glipmse of old in South Africa yesterday to win the Cape Town 7s.
Fiji clawed its way back to the top three after beating USA 29-15 in the cup final yesterday morning.
The Gareth Baber-coached team broke the hearts of Blitzbok 7s fans in the semi-finals when Fiji scored the winning try despite a man down to win 17-12.
Perseverance and determination paid off for Filimoni Botitu after he was awarded the HSBC Player of the Final as the young star broke various line of defence to score significant tries in critical stages of the tournament.
Botitu was part of the Fiji under-20 rugby team that won the World Rugby Challenge in Romania earlier this year including Ratu Meli Derenalagi and speedster Aminiasi Tuimaba. Botitu thanked the team for helping him.
“I thank the management and the players who have taught me everything which made me achieve this award today,” said Botitu.
The icing on the cake came from heroic team captain Kalione Nasoko and Alasio Naduva when they were named in the HSBC Dream Team for the Cape Town 7s tournament including two USA players and one from New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa.
The team returns home today and will take a break for Christmas before resuming training for the New Zealand 7s in Hamilton.
