The Fiji Airways men’s sevens team celebrated a remarkable achievement by winning all three of their pool matches at the HSBC Dubai 7s last Saturday. They started their campaign with a close 21-15 victory over Spain, managing to turn the game around after trailing 7-10 at halftime, thanks to tries from Kavekini Tanivanuakula, Terio Tamani, and George Bose.
Continuing their dominant form, Fiji then faced the United States, securing a convincing 42-20 win. The team’s success was credited to tries by Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Filipe Sauturaga, Iowane Teba, and two from Joji Nasova. In their final pool match against New Zealand, Fiji clinched a 21-12 win, with Terio Tamani, Pilipo Bukayaro, and Filipe Sauturaga contributing with three converted tries.
Despite the clean sweep in the pool matches, head coach Osea Kolinisau identified areas for improvement. He pointed out missed opportunities in the match against New Zealand, emphasizing the team’s potential to perform even better in the upcoming quarter-finals. “We can do better when we go through to the quarter-finals and make sure we execute when we get an opportunity,” Kolinisau remarked.
Looking ahead, Fiji is set to clash with France in the cup quarter-finals, reigniting the memory of their previous encounter during the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they secured a silver medal despite a tough 7-28 defeat.
This string of victories showcases Fiji’s resilience and competitive spirit as they move deeper into the tournament, offering hope for continued success in the later rounds. The momentum from this performance could be pivotal for the team’s confidence and determination in the quarter-finals and beyond.
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