Opposing teams have become increasingly familiar with Fiji’s style of play and are targeting the side’s key attacking threats.
Sevens great Waisale Serevi said this as the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s team runs out for the Bordeaux 7s, which starts tonight.
Serevi said the issue had been evident in recent tournaments, with teams analysing Fiji’s patterns and shutting down its most dangerous players.
“When coaches analyse Fiji, they identify the dangerous players and put extra defenders on them,” he said.
“At the moment opposing teams know who breaks the line for Fiji, and when they shut those players down, Fiji struggles.”
He said while the team had attacking talent, success could no longer rely on individual brilliance alone.
“I’ve seen them play — they are creating space individually. When somebody makes a break, that’s when it happens. I think all teams have known from the last couple of tournaments the way Fiji plays.”
Serevi said Fiji must urgently improve its defensive system if it is to challenge for the Bordeaux 7s title.
He said the team fought hard at the Valladolid 7s last weekend but paid the price for repeated defensive errors and a predictable attacking approach.
“I thought they gave everything,” he said.
“I’ve seen them train, and they train very hard, but at the moment I can see they are struggling.”
He said Fiji’s three losses at the tournament in Spain highlighted the need for improvement, particularly in one-on-one tackling and overall defensive organisation.
“They really need to work hard on their defence. They also need to develop their attacking shape and work together as a team,” he said.
Fiji will face Kenya tomorrow in its first pool match at 12.44am.
