Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s opened their Hong Kong 7s campaign with a commanding 42-5 victory over Germany yesterday, but head coach Osea Kolinisau warned that defensive lapses and poor communication remain concerns ahead of tougher matches this weekend. Kolinisau praised the result but said the performance exposed areas the side must tighten as the tournament progresses.
Fiji built a 21-0 halftime lead through three converted tries, two from Terio Tamani and one from Filipe Sauturaga. The second half saw Tira Wilagi-Patterson cross twice and debutant Tomasi Vuluma Stark add his first international try — a milestone Kolinisau was particularly pleased about. “I’m happy for Tomasi (Stark) getting his first try especially in Hong Kong,” Kolinisau said, adding that he looked forward to seeing Stark develop as the tournament continues.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Kolinisau highlighted tactical and defensive concerns. “There were a few things we could have done right; we should have spread the ball wide but we kept going inside,” he told Times Sport. He also urged improvements in communication, saying: “But good effort from the boys, we still need to work on our defence and our communication as well.”
Conversions were successful from Tamani, Vuiviwa Naduvalo and Douglas Daveta, keeping the scoreboard moving for Fiji. Germany managed a late consolation when Makonnen Amekuedi sprinted through for an unconverted try at the hooter, preventing a shutout but underscoring the kind of breaks through the defensive line that Kolinisau singled out.
Stark’s try will be a welcome sign for Fiji’s depth: the Naviti, Yasawa forward is a newcomer to the squad and scored on his Hong Kong debut. Kolinisau singled out the personal milestone while making clear it does not mask team weaknesses. With the pool stage underway, Fiji will need to translate individual sparks into consistent defensive shape.
As this edition went to press, Fiji were preparing to face Great Britain in their next pool fixture. Kolinisau’s focus on tightening defence and improving on-field communication takes on added urgency with stronger opposition looming; addressing those issues will be crucial if Fiji are to build on yesterday’s winning start and progress through the Hong Kong tournament.
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