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Fiji head coach hails Tuwai as 'four players on the field' and reveals Singapore strategy

By Chris Jones
Fiji Sevens playmaker Jerry Tuwai. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Fiji coach Gareth Baber admits that fatigue will be a factor as they attempt to add the Singapore title to the remarkable fifth successive Hong Kong Sevens triumph.

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Baber and his staff will monitor the Fiji players throughout the week and aim to use the humility of the David and Goliath parable to remind the squad what they have to get right to deliver another Series win. Fiji are now seven points behind HSBC World Sevens Series leaders USA and Baber said: ”I want players who are in emotional control and can deliver the quality of performances that have won us tournaments.

“We have the players in the swimming pool also eating and hydrating properly and the process of recovery started on Sunday night and it is a tough ask to go from such a high winning Hong Kong, which means so much to all Fijians and then head to Singapore. We train the boys to operate at this level and we all know that this week is the tough one and it is all about getting our team ready. We know the processes that have to be right to allow us to win this tournament and now it is about being confident in our plan and not getting blinded by fatigue or distractions.

“We have been here before with the same fatigue levels and a few players had more game time than others and we will manage them. It is now a race for all teams to see who can get their players in the best physical and mental state. I started the same seven all the way through in Hong Kong and had done that only once previously.

“Regardless of the points system, my focus is to ensure the players deliver what they did in Hong Kong, Cape Town and Hamilton – it doesn’t change because we are now in second place in the table. It is about controlling what you do, preparing the right way and not getting ahead mentally and thinking that you are potentially better than you are. Our culture hasn’t changed but other teams step up against Fiji and every game is a final.”

Baber paid tribute to Jerry Tuwai describing the play-maker as “four players on the field” in Hong Kong. Baber, who has dealt with a series of off-the-field problems this season including injuries to key players, said: “Jerry’s four players on a field, isn’t he. He’s a little man but the work he can do around the field, the maturity and the decision making. Last year people were calling for his head at times and it just leaves me flabbergasted that anybody should ever have a theory like that on a player that can achieve such beautiful things on a rugby field. He’s such a beautiful man as well. He instils humility in the squad and helps them just do what they have got to do.”

Tuwai was typically modest as he received the plaudits from his coach and said: “I’m speechless. To play with such amazing talent, you know they carried me through. I am just so blessed. It’s the only tournament we know in Fiji.”

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In other news: Nations Championship deadline extended

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Trevor 56 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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