Fiji 7s coach Josateki Savou has implemented another strategy in his search for success in the current IRB World 7s Series.
The Suva based Prison warden will blend 15s and 7s together to score his first win in the last leg of the Series.
He will use loose forwards from the full code to be ball hunters in the abbreviated form of rugby.
“This is a very important week because we are going to select our 12-member team to the London and Scotland 7s,” he added.
“We depart on Sunday after naming the team on Wednesday. We have flankers from the 15-men game. We will mould them to be ball hunters,” he added.
The new tactic is to solve Fiji’s problems at kick-off utilising heights and Fijian physical ball hunting prowess to deny possession to oppositions.
The return of 1997 World 7s Cup hero and former Super-12 Crusaders run-away train Marika Vunibaka was not enough to score oppositions because Fiji had not been competitive in aerial ball tussles from kick-off and specialised ball hunting players.
“It is a concern and that is why we are using loosies to help prepare for the World Cup in Dubai next year.”
The new set of forwards in the Fiji 7s squad are Timoci Vakadranu (Kaite, Naitasiri), Kolinio Vasuilagi (Namale, Cakaudrove East), Apenisa Ratuyadra (Police Mobile, Naitasiri) being named in the forwards while Vereimi Vilitati (Namale, Cakaudrove), Sailosi Rabo (Sharks), Viliame Maya, Jerry Burotu, Setefano Cakau and skipper Marika Vunibaka.
“These are all flankers and they are specialised rugby players in a team. They hunt the ball like crazy. They pound on loose balls like it is their last breath and they are some of the deadly attackers and tacklers in the game.
We are training them for the World Cup because without possession we will continue to score the results that we have now,” Savou added.
He said the new players had shown a lot of potential and it would be difficult to select the 12-member team on Wednesday.
Vunibaka is likely to lead the team again to the last leg of the series.
The Fiji 7s backline players are Emosi Vucago, Tomasi Mawi, Naisa Narukutabua, Nasoni Roko, Timoci Matanavou, Vereimi Vilitati and Nasoni Roko who arrives from Japan tomorrow.
News on
RSS 
