Etonia Naba, the former captain of Fiji’s rugby sevens team, has a crucial piece of advice for the Fiji Airways men’s sevens squad: adopt a more aggressive playing style. Naba’s comments come at a pivotal moment as the team prepares for the upcoming Singapore 7s tournament, aiming to clinch a gold medal once again.
Speaking with Times Sport after the McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s men’s cup final in Sigatoka, Naba highlighted areas for improvement, particularly emphasizing the need for enhanced fitness and defense. Reflecting on the performance of the Fiji Babas at the Coral Coast 7s, he noted that the team fell short of expectations and must step up to challenge their international competitors more effectively.
As the competition in the HSBC SVNS Series intensifies, particularly with its revised format allowing the top two teams to advance directly to the semi-finals, Naba’s advice resonates strongly. He stressed that aggression is essential in their gameplay, particularly when facing strong opponents: “They need to be aggressive because with all those teams we’ve seen here and the ones overseas, we really have to go up to them and tackle them,” he asserted.
Naba’s experience as a coach, having led the Ravuka Sharks to success, further supports his perspective on the need for a robust approach in sevens rugby. Fiji, the reigning champion of the Singapore 7s after their victory over Kenya in last year’s final, understands the high stakes involved in defending their title. Coach Osea Kolinisau recognizes the pressure to maintain their championship status, making the need for strategic enhancements even more critical.
With positive momentum building as they prepare for the Singapore 7s, there’s hope for a strong performance that could reignite their championship ambitions. As Naba encourages a fierce approach, fans are eager to see how the team will rise to the occasion.
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