Fiji’s men’s 7s coach, Osea Kolinisau, who is working against the clock to prepare the team for defending their Olympic Games sevens gold medal in Paris this summer, has rated the players’ fitness at only five out of ten.
Gareth Baber, who coached the Fiji rugby sevens team to Olympic gold in Tokyo after their historic win in Rio in 2016, is helping the team get back in shape for the upcoming Olympic Games. He has been brought in to oversee the squad’s preparation, working alongside Osea Kolinisau, who is focusing on the Singapore leg of the HSBC SVNS.
Kolinisau, who took over as coach after Ben Gollings was fired in March, led the team in his first tournament at Hong Kong. He recently told the Fiji Times during a training session that he believes the team is only at a “five” on a scale of one to ten in terms of readiness. Despite some progress, there’s still work to be done to reach the desired level of fitness and skill.
**Fiji Sevens Rated 5 Out of 10 for Fitness, Says Coach Kolinisau**
Fiji’s men’s sevens rugby coach, Osea Kolinisau, is in a race against time to prepare his squad for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, aiming to defend their gold medal. Despite the team’s rich legacy and recent success, Kolinisau has expressed concern over the current fitness levels, rating them at just five out of ten.
Kolinisau’s comments come after a disappointing showing at the Hong Kong Sevens, his first tournament in charge after replacing the sacked Ben Gollings in March. The Fiji Sevens team, known for their explosive and fast-paced style, fell short in crucial moments due to a lack of fitness and missed tackles.
Gareth Baber, the coach who guided the team to Olympic glory in Tokyo and Rio, has been brought back to support Kolinisau’s efforts in preparing the squad for the Paris Olympics. Baber aims to restore the players’ physical condition and readiness for the high-intensity sevens rugby.
In an interview with the Fiji Times during a recent training session, Kolinisau acknowledged that the team still had a long way to go in terms of fitness, tackle technique, and overall sharpness. He remarked, “Maybe we are around five right now on a scale of one to 10, we are not there yet.”
The Fiji Sevens coach noted that missed opportunities played a significant role in their defeat at Hong Kong. The team had six missed tackles and failed to capitalize on four consecutive scoring chances against New Zealand. Kolinisau emphasized the importance of learning from these mistakes, stating that some lessons come with time, while others must be taught through gameplay.
Veteran player Jerry Tuwai, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is among those training with the squad, hoping to contribute to the team’s revival. Despite the setbacks, there is optimism that with focused preparation and determination, the Fiji Sevens team can regain their form and be ready to defend their Olympic title in Paris this summer.
