New Zealand inflicted Fiji Airways 7s team and its fervent fans gash wound following their 22-17 semifinal win at the AT&T Stadium in San Francisco today.
Fiji failed to find its niche in the all too important fixture that saw Fijian flyer Jo Ravouvou scoring a brace of tries.
Dylan Collier and Regan Ware added a try each to set the stage for the grand finale showdown against England, who beat South Africa 22-17.
Hardcore fans were just as dejected as Eroni Sau, the 2017-2018 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the Year, who was dropped from Fiji’s RWC 7s squad.
Sporting a Fiji 7s tracksuit, the ‘Sledgehammer’, a name he earned for his bone crashing tackles wore a sad face as he made his way out of the stadium concourse.
Many fans made just comments like, ‘Fiji missed you’, he acknowledged with a grimace.
He refused fans request for pictures and autographs.
“Eroni Sau was upset”, said Mira Mehbub, a Delta, British Columbia, Canada resident, who was among a strong Fijian backdrop.
“Sau looked very unhappy.
“Fiji needed him in the defense”.
Mira told Sportsone that Fiji lacked the killer instincts and New Zealand simply took the game to Fijians.
“New Zealand seem to have read Fiji’s game well and it appeared they wanted more to play the final”.
Semi Radradra, Amenoni Nasilasila and Alosio Naduva scored Fiji’s tried.
Fiji will face South Africa for the bronze medal match.
