Fiji fly out for London Sevens minus their hospitalised coach
Fiji Sevens coach Gareth Baber has been released from hospital – but will not be able to link up with the squad in London until the start of next week.
Baber has been treated for a bacterial infection and the squad flew out of Fiji under the control of assistant coach Kane Jury, who has assumed the role normally taken by the Welshman who has guided Fiji into second place with two legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in London and Paris remaining.
Fiji are three points behind series leaders USA who are going to be featuring fit-again Perry Baker, the double player of the series winner, at the London Sevens which starts on May 25 at Twickenham. Fiji will have at least another three days without Baber who was expected to join the squad on Friday but suffered a setback in his recovery which required a longer stay in hospital. “I got admitted to hospital last week but I’m now out and hopefully I will fly to London on Monday,” he said. “It’s just another obstacle!”
Jury and the squad have now started the long haul to London and the caretaker coach told the Fiji Sun: “The most important thing for us is consistency in our restarts and defence. The opportunity to go over to London to play is extraordinary and the boys are ready for it.
“For us, it is about getting better on every game and we found that out in Singapore as we were faced with a pretty tough situation after day one and in day two we put in a performance that we are proud of. It was a big development for the boys on and off the field. There were not many changes in the team but to maintain that cohesion in the team is very important.”
https://t.co/M18zlorwte pic.twitter.com/VsXkVw1KU6
— Fiji Sun (@sun_fiji) May 17, 2019
Jury added that the recovery of Waisea Nacuqu from a fractured shoulder has boosted the team. “It is good to have Waisea Nacuqu back and it makes a big difference on the field as playmaker.
“A lot of development of the last two tournaments has been off the field, particularly on their mental skills. It has been a lot more on going for the team during their community visits and also going to the children’s hospital. The development is about people and that will take them a long way.”
Fiji face Kenya, France and Samoa in their London Sevens pool.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar 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.
10 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.
41 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.
3 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
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
41 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.
41 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.
41 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.
41 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 comments