The current Fiji men’s rugby sevens team’s preparation was far from the standards of the gold medal-winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
This was disclosed by Fiji men’s rugby sevens head coach, Ratu Osea Kolinisau, following their 28-7 loss to France, resulting in a silver medal finish at the Paris Olympic Games.
“I took over coaching this team four months ago,” Kolinisau said.
“Our preparation for the Olympics usually spans four years, and when I joined, we were nowhere near that level. I had to push the players to their limits with very little time in a high-tempo game.”
Kolinisau expressed pride in their ability to reach the Olympics final and secure a medal.
“The boys were very disheartened by the result. I told them to keep their heads high because winning an Olympic silver medal is a significant achievement for any athlete,” he said.
At 38 years old, Kolinisau recalled facing many critics upon his arrival, who thought his high standards for the players led to their struggles in the HSBC SVNS series. Sevens rugby experts also doubted Fiji’s chances of winning a medal. Kolinisau said he is now much happier with the accomplishments of this young team.
When asked about captain Jerry Tuwai’s impact, Kolinisau responded, “I am thankful for Jerry. He knew I would always get him involved because he understands how I want the game played.”
“He understood the standards required in the team. It will be a tough loss for Fiji rugby when Jerry retires. The legacy Jerry has set will be hard to surpass and an inspiration to upcoming athletes.”
Kolinisau acknowledged that France was the better team at the end as they capitalized on their opportunities and turned them into points.
“It’s a tough job coaching Fiji, especially with the legacy the country has and the passionate rugby fans back home. Regardless of whether it’s a young side, our fans expect us to win, but we know we’ve worked really hard these past few weeks.”
“I know some of my players have faced criticism for the last two years regarding their performance in the sevens series, but earning an Olympic medal is a bonus,” he said.
Kolinisau expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported them on their journey to Paris and apologized for not securing the gold medal this time around.