Defending HSBC World Sevens Series champions Fiji has named a 14 member team to start their campaign in retaining their World title. Head Coach Ben Ryan has opted for experience and youth and most of all relying wholly on the locally groomed players to represent the Fijians in the series opening leg in Dubai and Cape Town, South Africa.
Vodafone Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan has named 14 players for the Dubai 7s with the final 12 players to be confirmed before the first pool game against the Canadians. Making a comeback is Nadroga skipper and former Fiji 7s captain Nemani Naqusa, nippy Suva halfback Emosi Mulevoro and lanky Daveta forward Viliame Mata. There are two new debutants in Tabadamu’s playmaker Emori Waqa and Yamacia’s Sevuloni Mocenacagi.
The team will be led once again by the experienced general Osea Kolinisau, assisted by the lanky playmaker in Pio Tuwai who may be past his prime in speed but makes up for it in his attacking ability as he posses slick footwork with an offload that only Sonny Bill Williams can match, he also possess the ability to win a match with just a touch of magic as he has displayed in past tournaments. Barring injuries he will be vital for the new campaign and most of all going for Gold in Rio. With the absence of Hitman and World Sevens Player of the Year nominee, the brutal strength of Nemani Nagusa and Aisake “Ice” Katonibau, the height of Viliame Mata and Pio Tuwai at the kickoffs, the speed in Jasa Veremalua and Api Domolailai makes the Fiji forward pack, the pack to be wary of come Game Day in Dubai on the 4th and 5th of December.
The Fiji backline will always pose a threat to any team to every tournament even with unfamiliar names as they are seasoned sevens players locally, a reason Ben Ryan has opted again for local players this season to defend their World Series title. Nippy Army halfback Emosi Mulevoro returns in the absence of injured Eminoni Nasilasila. Teaming up with him in that halfback-playmaker area are Wardens playmaker Kitione Taliga and one of last season’s breakout stars Vatemo Ravouvou and the nippy twinkle toed Jerry Tuwai who had most opposition at his mercy last season. Captain fantastic Osea Kolinisau covers the rovers berth with Savenaca Rawaca and the new debutants will cover the wings position with Rawaca, but one advantage that Ryan has over other teams is that this team is full of utility players and he can switch his players around to suit his game plan or opposition.
With South Africa and New Zealand opting to field Test players in their teams leading to Rio, Ben Ryan has opted for locally based Fijian players to show the world the depth and knowledge of sevens the local players have, last season is a testimony to what locally based players can archive and he is going for that formula again. It is going to be a very hard and exciting season maybe the best yet so if you love Sevens rugby or not, this season could change your view of sevens rugby because you will see the best rugby players doing their best in 14 minutes with space and numbers. Good Luck to the Fiji team in this series opener.
Fiji Team:
Apisai Domolailai
Emori Waqa
Emosi Mulevoro
Isake Katonibau
Jasa Veremalua
Kitione Taliga
Nemani Naqusa
Osea Kolinisau
Pio Tuwai
Savenaca Rawaca
Jerry Tuwai
Sevuloni Mocenacagi
Vatemo Ravouvou
Viliame Mata
Coach: Ben Ryan
Physio: William Kwoong
Trainer: Nacani Cawanibuka
Manager: Ropate Kauvesi
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