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Ex-Fiji 7s coach poses 15s question in wake of Dubai Sevens blowout

Fiji training session prior to the Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

Former Fiji 7s coach Peni Veidreyaki has questioned the wisdom of letting so many of the country’s gold winning squad transfer into the 15s game with the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens on the horizon.

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His comments came after the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s exit from the second HSBC Wordld Sevens Series event in Dubai with losses to France 17-22 and Spain 14-33.The side finished off their pool campaign with a 40-7 victory against Argentina but this was not enough to ensure the side qualified for the cup quarter-finals.

Veidreyaki said it took former Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber nearly three years to build a winning combination to win the 2018-2019 series after his appointment in 2016. Baber was offered the chance to continue in the role after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo but opted to take up a coaching post with Edinburgh which he has just started after temporarily coaching the Flying Fijian squad in their Autumn series matches.

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      Veidreyaki told the Fiji Times: “Why take 11 new players when members of the Tokyo gold medal winning team could have been retained for the two major events next year? It takes time to groom players for an international environment especially when you have seven players in the squad who haven’t even gone abroad. Only a few players from the winning squad in Tokyo got overseas contracts while others have been contracted by the Fijian Drua.

      “A winning combination cannot be built overnight and in rugby, the 7s game and 15s game are separate codes which require special coaching techniques especially at the highest level. The Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8 while the RWC 7s will be held in September 9-11 in South Africa.”

      Meanwhile, Fiji’s double gold medal winning Olympian Seremaia Tuwai has married his long time partner and mother to his children, Mereani Folau, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.

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      Comments

      2 Comments
      i
      iliesa 1155 days ago

      What has transpired regarding the selection of the team at rugby house is none other than the usual Fijian mentality."Oh they can do it like all other Fijian team selection we have selected before".

      i
      isaac 1155 days ago

      Yep..kick the team when they are down...lol thisbformer coach sounds bitter...relax...let them gel...

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      RedWarrior 6 minutes ago
      Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss

      The English defense was excellent in the first half. This is considering Ireland's attack has improved significantly since the Autumn with former Leinster attack coach Goodman. Ireland were beaten by NZ in the Autumn, are behind SA and arguably behind France so de facto 4th in order (rankings take time to catch up) As Eddie Jones said Ireland are still in that elite group so England's domination in the first half is noteworthy.

      I believe they have spent the time since the Autumn largely on defence. On broken play they were relying on Smiths instint along with some jiggery pokery. For Smiths early line break a Twindaloo blocked Baird which left the gap for smith. It looked like he did Aki, but Baird was a little late arriving and clever play by Tom Curry allowed the gap for Smith. Earls line break was Smith spotting Baird coming out and beating him with a beautiful pass to Earl.

      We saw the rehearsed plays for a couple of Ireland's tries. The Aki try was just identifying that England tended to hide Smith on the wing creating a vulnerability which Ireland exploited with one of Akis great finishes.

      Although Ireland were relaxing at the end the two English tries were good enough quality and we may see more of it next week (Scotland will also have taken note).

      Although on the easier side of the draw Borthwick almost took England to a RWC final.

      But in common with the top4 you need to have firepower to get those tries in big games. Can Borthwick manage that? I don't think so.

      Next week even if England have a great first half again, you would be looking at France converting 3 of those Irish chances and pushing on after the break.

      Can Borthwick develop a plan to beat France in the next few years. If the answer is no England need to find someone who can.

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