We can conquer Asia

Opinions / Analysis

Five down and four more tournaments to go. The heat is on and the race to win the HSBC Sevens World Series is intensifying.

Obviously a lot of Digicel Fiji sevens team supporters are hurting over the fact that we didn’t win in the second leg and of course the disappointment is justified because sevens is our national sport. However, the most important thing right now is that we’re still in it, largely thanks to the Samoans and powerhouse forward Alafoti Faosiliva.

We may not be the best team in the world or have the best combinations but the fact remains; we’re second on the points table and well within striking range. Yes, we’re still in the hunt and may well have the last laugh if we focus on the positives and learn from the mistakes made in Wellington and Las Vegas.

Fiji’s grandeur wing of the 80s, Sanivalati Laulau once told me during tea at popular Joes Café in Nadi that Fiji shouldn’t look at paving paths for sevens rugby. He said the path had already been paved and just needed to be maintained. “We’ve put Fiji’s sevens on the world map. The trail must be followed by all passionate players and Fiji should be fine,” he had said. A vivacious thought from one of Fiji’s biggest stars but over the years, the message got muddled up through the ranks and the wise words didn’t get translated well enough. The result is right before us. Today, we are failing to get past Wales, Argentina, Tonga, Scotland and Kenya.

Fiji is a tier-one sevens team and doesn’t go to the IRB Series to develop players or test combinations. They go there to win. Development of players and testing of combinations must be done during invitational tournaments like Marist Sevens, Uprising Sevens and the Darwin Sevens. The coaches have to get their acts together and build a formidable combination. They need to be bold enough to ring the right changes because winning is the ultimate goal and it’s never viable to carry underperforming players. Fiji’s fragile defence needs attention. Our defensive systems must put a lot of emphasis on first-up one-on-one tackles, player positioning and the ability to steal the ball after the opposition’s second or third phase attack. The team that played in Wellington and Las Vegas lacked a robust scavenger to pressure the breakdowns.

Captain Setefano Cakau and utility back Osea Kolinisau are great attacking players but they are major liabilities when the team is under pressure and defending their line. Kolinisau has even admitted his tackling is poor while Cakau was caught in a rather embarrassing position when Frank Halai ran around him to score an easy try in the Wellington Sevens final. These two may score plenty tries in pool play, quarter-finals and plate finals but does it really matter when you can’t replicate that when it matters the most especially in the semi-final and final. Against quality teams like New Zealand, Samoa, England and South Africa, during semi-final and final situations, unless a big lead has been established, you simply can’t afford a single missed-tackle because it will eventually leak in tries.

In the beginning, wing Kolinisau was good because he’s fast and the team put him into space to finish the moves. Then suddenly the coach decides to gamble by playing him as rover and playmaker. It proved disastrous. Kolinisau is an established sevens wing. That is the only position that suits him because he is way too light for any other backline position. There is a dire need to put the ageing Cakau’s captaincy and position in the team into proper perspective. What is the use of having a 33-year-old captain when the team is hardly winning? Did we see him flatten any Kiwi or Samoan in a legitimate tackle? A good captain leads by example, is always on top with his A-game and makes fewest mistakes. He has to be a good communicator and motivator as well but unfortunately Cakau hardly displays such traits. Cakau’s position in the team can only be justified if he is exceptional in any one position. Specifically, he isn’t and that’s why he’s being rotated sometimes as a prop, rover and wing. There seems to be a misconception that he is a jack of all trade but in sevens you need to be a master of at least one position first before stepping into the role of a utility player. Every Fijian whether young or old, experienced or inexperienced is capable of scoring tries from basically anywhere on the pitch but just a few turn out to be strong, respected defenders. The equation is fairly simple. If we want to win then we have to beat teams like New Zealand, Samoa, England and South Africa at some stage of the competition and you can’t do that without a solid defence.

The onus is on the coaches to select right players. A player’s defensive capability has to be a big part of the selection criteria.

On the bright side, finally we have unearthed a quality playmaker in Metuisela Talebula after struggling without anybody reliable for many seasons. Talebula is young and talented. Sooner or later, some rich overseas club will come and take him away. The Fiji Rugby Union has developed Talebula and must act smartly otherwise it will never be able to enjoy the fruits of its development. FRU needs to invest in players like Talebula and further develop a career pathway for them. The big question now is whether FRU can retain Talebula and build a champion team around him because we’re fast approaching the Olympics and the World Cup. Sekonaia Kalou has adjusted well to sevens and is a viable option for line-outs and kick-offs. Let’s hope he is available on a long term basis. Lepani Botia is an exciting raw talent and has everything to become Fiji’s next Jerry Burotu. Find of the season Waisea Nayacalevu, 19, stands as tall as the Eiffel tower and on his debut, he even drew comparisons to the immortal Jonah Lomu by the commentators. He is a sight to marvel at in possession of the ball (as witnessed by the lovely back-handed offload that released Cakau to score a try against South Africa). He did so with aplomb as he showed great ability with hand and foot.

Once upon a time Fiji was the king of sevens rugby. In the 80s, it was during the days of Laulau, Ilami Lutumailagi and Etuate Gusuivalu ‘‘Honda’. Then came genius Waisale Sir-revi, Noa Nadruku, Vili Rauluni, Tomasi Cama, Manasa Bari, Marika Vunibaka, Vilimone Delasau and Viliame ‘Stretcher’ Satala. Fiji must regroup, learn from the past and look to the future.

We have about six weeks to conquer Asia (Hong Kong and Japan).