A former Flying Fijian, Super Rugby and Fiji 7s rep is calling for the re-introduction of the involvement of former Fijian players in the management team of national sides.
Nadi’s Ratu Apenisa Naevo, who represented Fiji in 7s and the 1999 Rugby World Cup under former coach Brad Johnstone and 2003 in Australia under Mac McCallion, said former Fiji reps should be involved as coaches, assistant coaches or managers in Fiji teams.
“Fiji should always involve a Fijian in the management team of all national sides,”Naevo, who played for the Auckland Blues and Chiefs in Super Rugby, said from his Nadi farm yesterday.
He commended the work of Fiji 7s coaching partner and rugby legends Ben Gollings and Viliame ‘The Strethcher’ Satala in the London 7s this weekend.
“Not only for 7s, but the Fijian Drua too. We Fijians understand each other. There are barriers that keep us from revealing ourselves as players when we work with expatriates. A Fijian will understand a Fijian better.”
After Fiji won in Toulouse last week, Naevo said: “Even in the final, Fiji was still full of surprises. There are several factors that contributed to that. First, they are new, second – they are fit and they read the game well. Lastly, the coaching combination of Ben Gollings and Vili Satala is the best I have seen for Fiji after a long time.
“Gollings and Satala are winning because they were masters of rugby, they know how to motivate the players and what players need. Players are assets of a team, treat them well and they win for you.”
He said Fiji would win in London this weekend.
Fixtures:
Today:
8.10pm Australia v New Zealand, 8.32pm France v Canada, 8.54pm Argentina v South Africa, 9.16pm Ireland v Kenya, 9.38pm USA v Spain, 10pm Fiji v Wales, 10.22pm England v Scotland, 10.44pm Samoa v Japan, 11.16pm Australia v Canada, 11.38pm France v New Zealand.
Tomorrow:
12am Argentina v Kenya, 12.22am Ireland v South Africa, 12.44am USA v Wales, 1.06am Fiji v Spain, 1.28am England v Japan, 1.50am Samoa v Scotland, 2.24am NZ v Canada, 2.46am France v Aust, 3.08am South Africa v Kenya, 3.30am Ireland v Argentina, 4.07am Spain v Wales, 4.35 Fiji v USA, 5.05am Scotland v Japan, 5.33am Samoa v England.
