Serevi's PNG remain hopeful for Adelaide March 16, 2010
The Waisale Serevi coached Papua New Guinea 7s team is looking forward to this weekend's Adelaide 7s with optimism and a glimmer of hope.
The team left last week seven days ahead of the tournament to adjust well with the conditions in Australia.
PNG have been drawn with crowd favourites Kenya, Wales and Wellington winners Fiji in probably the only “painless” looking pool of the tournament.
While PNG’s previous results in their encounters with Kenya have been below expectations, the sevens flagship of the African continent has threatened regulars since their return to the circuit, even posing wins against the top teams.
Against Wales, it has been a while since PNG turned the 2002 series on its head in Brisbane, winning 33-17 over the European side, but a Fiji revisit about a month after the Wellington meet, might just be the opportunity to heal those wounds.
According to The National online, the squad had been in camp for a week and a half with the return of Brisbane-cum-Kimbe-based speed merchant Gina Ponda putting added-mile to the stocks. The injection of power in brother Daniel Ponda, and Kavieng Black Orchid sevens find Eugene Tokavai has opened coachSerevi’s options for strike and a little unpredictability.
With clear signs from Wellington of the “rust” in the playmaking department, the management has not given too much away and is looking to stick by its current organisers, with the three inclusions, to the original squad.
The rest of the squad from the Wellington leg are Alex Haija, Monty Diave, Lawrence Kuso, Sova Milfred, Benjamin John, David Eri, Roland Namo, Albert Levi Junior, Kojo Ware, Tisa Kautu and Karo Kauna, with Willie Rikis (assistant coach) and Malcolm Giheno (manager).
The pools of the Adelaide 7s are as follow: Pool A – New Zealand, Argentina, Scotland, Tonga; Pool B – Samoa, South Africa, France, Japan, Pool C- Fiji, Kenya, Wales and PNG and Pool D – England, Australia, USA and Niue.
News on
RSS 
