Fiji coach reveals what's next for Nasoko after Edinburgh deal falls through
Former captain Kalione Nasoko will undergo knee surgery in Australia to ensure he can help Fiji defend their Olympic Sevens gold medal in Japan next year as part of head coach Gareth Baber’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title winning squad.
Nasoko suffered the knee injury during the successful World Series campaign and medical tests in Scotland revealed the extent of the ACL damage, forcing Edinburgh to shelve plans to add the explosive wing to their Pro14 squad.
Nasoko was sent home to sort out the injury and Baber has confirmed to RugbyPass the operation will take place in Australia and then his former captain will start the rehabilitation process to ensure his skills can be added to an already powerful squad featuring a number of new faces, including Meli Derenalagi, the Rookie of the Year and Vilimoni Botitu the DHL Impact Player.
Baber said: “There is a desire and demand for another gold medal in Fiji and I have felt that very strongly from the moment I took on the job. It was understood that I had to emulate what had been achieved before me and 12 months out from the 2020 Games we are in a good place.
“Kali failed a medical and has returned to our care and will have an operation in Australia in the next week or so and I very much see the door being open for him to rehab and be in a position to be in the squad. He has shown his pedigree in the way he has led the team and performed and while I am sad it has hasn’t worked out for him at Edinburgh, we could be getting back early next year one of the best sevens players in the World. That is a massive boost for us and we are going to pray for his rehab.”
Baber and his victorious squad will arrive at Nadi International Airport on Wednesday from Paris, where Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will welcome them at the traditional ceremony at Nawaka Village in Nadi. Numerous other villages are asking to stage events to recognise the achievements of the team and local players in the squad while Baber also has a family party at the end of the week in Fiji to mark his daughter’s 18th birthday.
Baber acknowledges the need to enjoy this week and then start to prepare for the defence of title next year and, most importantly, retaining the Olympic Games gold medal in Tokyo. The head coach is being lauded in Fiji for winning a fourth World title after five tournament wins this season and the success will silence his critics who had questioned the team’s playing style during a season of injury set-backs and off-the-field problems.
Baber revealed the Fiji squad and management have been working with a mental skills coach to help deal with the pressure and expectation and said: “Every coach has to deal with different things during the year and some of them could have been disruptive but we have employed a mental skills coach to develop a robustness and resilience to be able to surmount issues. It’s about not letting those become a problem and for me, some of the obstacles I have dealt with have taught me a lot and as a group we have learnt how to stay focused.
“Players are human beings and there is going to be some scepticism and we have talked as a group about being open to change. I have been pleased with the players response, as we saw in the London and Paris legs, where we needed to kill off tournaments.
“Twelve months ago in Paris we were in a similar position to win the title and didn’t do it and in those intervening months we have got it right in terms of self-awareness and understanding of performance. What surprised me about the young players who came into the squad wasn’t the talent they had, it was the consistency they showed over a long period of time. As young men you are prone to dips in form and distractions but they stood up.
“There were will be distractions over the next year and I know what to look for and agents are, all year, looking at our players and it can be a factor. However, the players will get increased contracts from the Union in an Olympic year to try and take some of the that pressure off. You would hope some clubs would honour a contract that kicked in after the Olympics and it is something we are looking at, but money talks.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments