There is a new arsenal in the Fiji 7s team’s attack in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
It’s coach Ben Gollings Midas touch on the flamboyant Fijians that have stoked the national side into demolition mode to remain unbeaten in the Canada 7s in Vancouver yesterday.
After starting with a winning note by claiming the Singapore 7s title last weekend, the former England 7s captain, masterminded his adopted country to wins against his countrymen, Kenya and United States in the Canada 7s pool competition.
Fiji was to take on France earlier today in the quarter-finals.
To add to his success, his vice-captain and Olympics gold medallist Waisea Nacuqu became the sixth Fijian to score more than 100 tries in the history of the series.
Other Fijians are Jerry Tuwai (134), Nasoni Roko (125), Osea Kolinisau (122), Samisoni Viriviri (120) and William Ryder (105). Nacuqu has 102.
Waisale Serevi had 79. Gollings holds the series’ all-time high score of 2652 points, scored 220 tries, kicked 773 conversions, had two penalties against him and a red card. Yesterday he beat his countrymen 27-12.
England’s loss was Fiji’s gain as Gollings led Fiji to the quarter-finals this morning against France after slaying his country by 15 points with tries to Singapore 7s sensation Vuiviawa Naduvalo in the first minute, Nacuqu’s brace for his 102nd try in the series, Kaminieli Rasaku and Pilipo Bukayaro in the second half.
Golling’s sublime Fiji did not rest there. More firepower was released against Kenya recording six tries for the second win 38-7.
Debutant Jeremaia Matana recorded his first try in the series helping Nacuqu, Naduvalo, who has been scoring in all his games since last week, Rasaku, Josua Vakurinabili and Elia Canakaivata in Fiji’s tally.
Inspired by the world’s current best 7s player Jerry Tuwai, Fiji cranked up performance and played its best pool game against the inform United States without speed merchant Perry Baker in the last pool match.
The wings of the USA Eagles were clipped by the flying Fijians which ran unanswered tries to Rasaku, Naduvalo, Nacuqu, Elia Canakaivata and Jeremaia Matana to win 33-12.
Skipper Tevita Daugunu stole the show, a rare now in 7s rugby, when he intercepted a pass between two Americans to add on to Fiji’s victory.
The Eagles pulled two tries back, but Matana’s try was the nail on their coffin for Fiji to power through to the quarters this morning against France.
Daugunu heaped praises on teamwork and the coaching style of the legendary Gollings which inspired the players to bring joy to Fijians globally on Resurrection Sunday.
“We give God all the glory,” Daugunu said after beating USA.
“We knew that there was a lot of challenges. We are new to this atmosphere, but we are not new to rugby.
“We knew before this that we lacked a lot on defence, but tighten that up and came into the tournament. We love Ben Gollings. He is a simple man and we love how he coaches us.”
Today Fiji was to play France which was the runner-up from Pool D at 5.40am. The semi-finals were scheduled for 9.44am and the final at 12.58pm. Cup quarter-final fixtures: line-up: Fiji v France, South Africa v Samoa, Argentina v England, New Zealand v Australia
