Fiji 7s struggle

Fiji Sports

S1's Reddy and HSBC's Rob VickermanTHE Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team will find it hard to retain the Canada Sevens says Rob Vickerman, the HSBC World Rugby Sev­ens commentator and former England captain.

He said Fiji has not been playing their best rugby, one that they are known for.

“It’s is their worst 3-year run,” Vick­erman said, in Vancouver yesterday.

“Inconsistency on the part of the team.

“Not that they haven’t won a leg; they’ve won Cape Town and Hamilton but that’s where it stopped.”

Vickerman said the other reason is that Fiji has had a huge turnover of players in the past three years and that is not helping the team either.

“Fiji has lost some marquee players overseas.

“Experienced few have had disciplinary issues,” he said.

“New players will gel in but with time.

“For Fiji to win the overall series they should start winning now.”

Vickerman says New Zealand has been playing well and they are not only overall series contenders but look good to win their second Can­ada Sevens, which they first won in 2016.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see New Zealand win the Canada Sevens.”

New Zealand seem to have Fiji’s number this season.

The Kiwis have beaten Fiji 36-14 in the Cup semifinal of the Sydney Sevens and then again at the USA Sev­ens in Las Vegas last weekend where Fiji lost 19-14 in the Cup quarterfinal.

The reigning Canada Sevens cham­pions will have to bring their best game if they are to beat them in the cup quarter-final today.

Fiji will need every bit of the Fijian backdrop to give them the much-needed boost.

Baber’s men are hurting.

Captain Kaliono Nasoko limped out against Canada with a suspected hamstring injury.

He sat out the Samoa game.

Terio Veilawa and Aminiasi Tu­imaba also sustained heavy knocks on their ankles.

“We have a few players that sus­tained injuries,” Baber said.

“We will evaluate the players over­night and make a decision.”