Sublime skipper talks of 7s challenges March 11, 2010
"Its get tougher and tougher" says nippy Fiji sevens captain Emosi Vucago as he relaxes for a while and talks about how the IRB Sevens World Series.
"Since making my debut in the International Sevens arena in 2007, the level of competition at the Sevens World Series has just gone from strength to strength," said the 27 old stalwart Nadroga rugby campaigner.
In Nadroga, the rugged halfback is a legend in his own right.
He has won many trophies for his province and has proved to be the heart of the team leading from the base of the scrum and alternating with the pivotal play maker's position.
Since making his international debut and full test cap in 2006 against Tonga in their Pacific Rugby Cup fixture in Gosford, New South Wales,the then feisty 23 year old has come a long way to be captain of the national side.
"Its been a big learning curve for me," he says after the official announcement by BSP as the official partner of the Digicel sponsored Fiji sevens team in Suva this morning.
"Being captain isn't all that easy, but i am thankfull to the coach and manager and the rest of the senior players in the team who make my work easier."
The father of one; four-month old Annie Leilani Vucago says the job of rounding up players orchasing them for training or team talks and so on is now a thing of the past.
"One thing that professionalism has brought to this sport is being prompt and an environment that alllows everyone to work hard with the rewards at the end," he said
"So this makes the player work harder on his discipline, fitness and more importantly on his game, it creates a healthy competition for a spot in the team and in doing so makes work easier for the coach and the management in selecting a team," he said
After the dismal performances in Las Vegas, Vucago says alot of hard work has been put in by the players to ensure that Adelaide will bear good results and also in Hong Kong.
"I can say that Adelaide will be much harder then the rest of the two tournaments that we have been to, it will be much more intense as there are three teams still in the running for the title and the other teams like Australia, Kenya, Scotland and England will be all out there testing us to the limit,"
He said that since their arrival from the Wellington/Vegas leg of the series, the word in camp was to lift or maintain fitness levels and rectify areas of concern that let Fiji down in the USA.
"We started to look very closely at our defensive patterns, attacking ploys and just really preparing well mentally,"
"And it has worked well so we hope that we will take it up another level in Adelaide and HK," he said
But second eldest of seven siblings said that while he enjoyed being part of the Fiji sevens team set up and traveling the world, he is thankful to his family, especially his wife Cynthia who has been understanding and supportive.
"My wife who is also my very close friend has been the greatest support i have had and also my family who have been so supportive throughout my career," he said
"Without that kind of support i don't think i would be able to perform as well as i have done," he said
"Plus there are the other factors that keep me on my game, i look up to players like Waisale Serevi whom i have had the privilege to have worked with," he said
Vucago admited another factor in his game was also trying to emulate a fierce opponent on the field - Samoan Uale Mai.
"I look up to the guy, he and Wai (Serevi) are up there in as far as exponents in the game goes in my books," he said
"We may be fierce rivals on the field of play but when we meet after a game or before a tournament i make sure i catch up with him and just have a chat,"
"We discuss rugby, the family back home and how the game has progressed each time we meet but i keep my cards close to my chest, he is after all my opponent whenever we meet on the field,"
"I respect and look up to him a lot," he said
Vucago and his brigade jet out for Adelaide on Monday morning.
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