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'Cardio' Nadolo tweet sums up watching Fiji in men's sevens action
Fiji winger Namani Nadolo has perfectly summed up in a single tweet what watching his country play men’s sevens rugby is like. The Fijians are currently in England participating at the Commonwealth Games where they were paired against fierce rivals New Zealand in the semi-finals on Sunday.
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So tense was the last-four fixture that Fiji needed an extra time try from skipper Waisea Nacuqu – who ran 75 metres – to keep alive their gold medal bid in a match in which they came from 0-14 down to eventually dramatically win 19-14.
Adding to the tension was the brandishing of three yellow cards. Fiji lost Kaminieli Rasaku to the first-half sin bin before New Zealand had Leroy Carter (late tackle) and Akuila Rokolisoa (deliberate knockdown) binned late in the second, creating the crucial numerical imbalance that allowed the seven-man Fijians to pick off the five-man Kiwis with the game’s opening extra time play.
An intercept try from Filipe Sauturaga just before half-time – New Zealand were caught on the attack instead of kicking the ball dead for the break – kick-started the Fiji comeback. The match was levelled when Sevuloni Mocenacagi added another converted score midway through the second period of the fierce battle that left the watching Nadolo on edge.
“Thank you, Lord, that sevens rugby only goes for 14 minutes. Supporting Fiji in sevens is like doing a high-tempo cardio session. Heart rate through the roof for 14 minutes,” tweeted the veteran back who is currently going through his pre-season at Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester ahead of the new season which starts next month away to Exeter.
Thank you lord that 7s rugby only goes for 14mins. Supporting Fiji in 7s is like doing a high tempo cardio session. Heart rate through the roof for 14 min 😂😅🥴🤯.. #Rugby7s #CommonwealthGames2022
— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) July 31, 2022
Nadolo will now brace himself for some further anxious viewing as Fiji will contest the Commonwealth final on Sunday night local time against South Africa, who defeated Australia 24-12 in the other men’s semi-final in Coventry.
The try that sent @fijirugby to the final! 🇫🇯
What a moment! 👏#B2022 | #HowWeSevens pic.twitter.com/37Ma8EXtoZ
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) July 31, 2022
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments