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 TEIVOVO.COM – INTERNATIONAL 7s
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Friday December 1, 2006
Fiji start well but slip up against Aussies
Digicel Fiji 7s coach Waisale Serevi opted for a powerful line-up to do the job on day one of the Dubai tournament. They cleaned up Kenya and Portugal 45-0 and 36-0, respectively, without really breaking sweat, but were left red-faced when they let an inexperienced Australia team sneak past them 19-14.
Fiji will play France in Saturday's quarter-finals.
Captain Mosese Volavola and Sireli Naqelevuki began up front with Amenasi Nava at hooker. Nippy Lepani Nabuliwaqa slotted in at halback and scored four tries against the Kenyans.
The 20-year-old Napolioni Nalaga finished the day with four tries of his own, showing good power and speed on the wing, whilst William Ryder was used as an impact player from the bench.
“Nalaga and Nava are new players to the side, but they are very fit," Serevi said. "They play very well at 15s and so should do well in the abbreviated code."
“There’s a lot of teams gunning to beat Fiji and a lot of them are capable of winning the Series this year, so we won’t underestimate anyone, we have to be prepared when we play all these teams.”
New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens is clear about whom his side’s most difficult opponent will be if the Kiwis are to win in Dubai.
“Fiji had us in six or seven tournaments last year always in the quarter finals or semi-finals and they were certainly our stumbling block. They’re just a fantastic team with a lot of depth,” Tietjens said.
Serevi remains wary of Gordon Tietjens’ new and young brigade, determined to put New Zealand back on top.
“For the whole of last season they didn’t beat us so they’ll be looking forward to playing and defeating us.”
The Fiji 7s side, meanwhile, received a timely boost before their first match in Dubai.
The International Rugby Board announced Sunday that Fiji had been named the IRB International 7s Team of the Year, with Serevi on hand to collect the award in Glasgow.
“It’s been good to start the season with an award, and it’s something that will push the boys again to work harder this year,” Serevi said.
Dubai 7s 2006
Exiles Ground, UAE
Friday 1 December
Pool A
Fiji 45 Kenya 0
Australia 10 Portugal 12
Fiji 36 Portugal 0
Australia 24 Kenya 7
Kenya 0 Portugal 29
Fiji 14 Australia 19
Pool B
England 38 Scotland 0
France 7 Zimbabwe 19
England 29 Zimbabwe 0
France 21 Scotland 14
Scotland 19 Zimbabwe 17
England 19 France 7
Pool C
South Africa 47 Canada 5
Argentina 12 Tunisia 24
South Africa 33 Tunisia 12
Argentina 17 Canada 28
Canada 19 Tunisia 14
South Africa 40 Argentina 7
Pool D
New Zealand 31 Wales 12
Samoa 54 Arabian Gulf 0
New Zealand 54 Arabian Gulf 0
Samoa 14 Wales 17
Wales 47 Arabian Gulf 0
New Zealand 7 Samoa 10
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