Fiji lacks a competent captain

Fiji sevens side lacks a competent captain with all required skills embedded in him.

While experience may be brimming in players like Emosi Vucago, Vereniki Goneva and Nasoni Roko, the question is – whether it is the only facet needed in a player to make a cut for the captain’s job.

The Fijisevenstalanoa doesn’t think so!

Communication is another important portion missing in many of our sevens players.

Communicating well with the referee or the game officials and disseminating those exact phrases to his players had been a difficult task for our captains.

The main problem is understanding the language - English.

If the players get wrong or misinterpreted quotes from their captain … they will continue to repeat the same indiscipline over again, as seen in the previous tournamnets, costing them the game.

The blame should be directed to the messenger (the captain) – who in first place failed to understand the referees point and without clarifying, gave his players the wrong order!

Also the coach should be held for a wrong choice but what else he can do with limited options in his hand.

No wonder he has co-captains that allows him to shoot the wrong messenger replacing him with another throughout the tournament.

Only if the messenger delivers accurately – there won’t be any need to have dual captains and later the ‘shooting of the messenger’.

Malo - the jinx in Fiji sevens side !

Alifereti Malo is a grumpy guy and yet the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) choose him to manage our national sevens side.

The Fiji sevens side has not won a single tournament under his guidance as the team manager.

You may think it is just an ordinary drift but if you precisely follow the trend … you will be convinced Malo is an ill-fated fellow in the sevens bunch.

The friendly and co-operative feature is what that is lacking in him. Malo tends to act more like a BOSS rather a TEAM MANAGER as seen in earlier tournaments.

The players need good care and gracious officials to lead and manage them.

People like Malo demoralize the players’ zeal and their quest to quench the nations thirst of a victory or victories.

Jope Tuivanuavou (the manager of the national side in Hong Kong Sevens) is one of the best examples of good leader.

He should have been bestowed with the task rather than Malo.

A team is not made up of players only - it is made up of all those who are part of the side either they be coach or manager.

Hope Malo is able to break his personal “jinx” showing us he is capable of managing a winning team.

Good Luck !!

Reasons why Fiji sevens side cannot win in the remaining tournaments!

1) The side lacks an experience playmaker.

2) The side lacks speed merchants (only Orisi Sareki seems to have speed in the side)

3) The side lacks intensity and endurance as seen in past tournaments.

4) The side lacks a good captain (no wonder why there are co-capitains in the side).

5) The side does not have a good manager ( Alifereti Malo) to manage the team properly - a detail story to follow later.

Reasons why Fiji sevens side can win in the reamaining tournaments!

1) The side squad which wion the Hong Kong Sevens is retained i.e the side has tasted victory and knows how desparate the Fiji people is for another win.

2) The side has good combination since the players had been bonding together for sometime.

3) The side has experience players with good skills.

4) The fitness in the side is the best.

5) The side is very displined - as there hasn't been any report yet of breaking camp and other mishaps.

6) Confidence is amongst the players as many of them have represented Fiji earlier.

7) Have unremitting support from the Fiji fans locally and overseas.

8) Have easy pool games (apart from Kenya, other teams looks no threat to national side).

Injury Blow - does this signify the end of Rokodiva's flourishing career?

Rugby is said to be one of the most dangerous of many sports played throughout the world.

Injuries either minor or major - are evitable and have become a part of rugby.

Those able to sustain such injuries has gone to become legends but those getting troubled at flourishing stage of their career has been said to have a bleak rugby future.

Young Peni Rokodiva started his rugby career from school grade and represented the national sevens side at the 2008/2009 IRB World Sevens series.

With a shear speed and eye for gap, Rokodiva has been an outstanding player with and advantage of rugby running in his genes.

But lately he has missed some IRB tournaments because of a niggling injury, which now has turned into a horrendous one.

With a lot of hope to shine in London and Scotland Sevens, Rokodiva had been dropped once again from the national sevens team.

It would a heartbreaking for Rokodiva to watch on television the national sevens side play or more worse and hope it doesn’t happen – to lose.

The side will be bit affected by his absence but the question many asking is - will Rokodiva get away from this other part of rugby – INJURY- in future to prevent similar axe from national squad.

Will he be able to turn into a greatest player in sevens arena like his mentor Waisale Serevi.

This question might be troubling him as it does to fijisevenstalanoa because Rokodiva has proved to be a gem in sevens world.

Whilst the sevens season is coming to an end (after London and Scotland sevens) the best thing Rokodiva needs to do is get a break from the pitch.

It’s never wise to risk a thriving career by jumping onto the rugby field while carrying injuries – knowing that the injury might become worse.

All the best to Peni and hope he gets well soon to once again dazzle in the sevens circuit.





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Best ever side selected

The final 12-member team named for remaining two IRB tournaments is the best ever team.

The idea to retain the winning team is the right move by the sevens selectors.

These players had been together for more than a month and should have really build a good combination.

The fitness of these players looks the best as they proved by winning the Hong Kong sevens earlier.

Had they retained the fitness - the answer lies within the selectors and players ?

The fijisevenstalano hopes with the whole nation that our sevens side clinch the second title in two years.

Forwards: Apisai Nayabo, Pio Tuwai, Waqabaca Kotobalavu, Watisoni Votu and Jerry Burotu.
Backline: Emosi Vucago, Jiuta Lutumailagi, Niumaia Cakacaka, Osea Kolinisau, Orisi Sareki, Vereniki Goneva and Nasoni Roko

Will Lutumailagi be able to succeed the kicking task ?

Nadroga flyer Jiuta Lutumailagi is eyed to be given the kicking job in the remaining IRB sevens Series tournament by coach Iliesa Tanivula.

But the question here is - will he be able to live up to the expectation of the national side.

Fiji lost the touch of Midas after top choices Lepani Nabuliwaqa and William Ryder were dropped because of injury and discipline.

Since then the national side have not been able to produce a good fly-half which saw Fiji lose crucial points in conversions kicking.

Lutumailagi has played club competition locally and also at international level in France in the Top 14 and also the Pro Division 2.

He is also the leading point scorer in Digicel Cup (domestic 15s competition).

The skills and potential is there but will Lutumailagi is able to sustain the pressure in the international sevens scene is yet to be seen.

Hope he is able to patch the chink in our national sevens armour and becomes the next BIG THING IN THE SEVENS RUGBY !!