Perry Baker: We wont be worrying about what Fiji produce in Paris
We always knew the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series would come down to this final leg in Paris and having qualified automatically for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year our whole focus is now on lifting the title.
If you had told me at the start of this series that the USA would be two points off the lead going into Paris I would have grabbed it with both hands. The chance to be No.1 is something we have been discussing even before flying to London and when you are that close it is very hard not to start visualizing what it would be like. You want it so badly you can taste it and we are going to be totally tuned in to what will be needed to make that happen.
Making it to the Olympics by clinching one of the top four spots was our goal all through the Series, but having led the table for so long, we now want to finish as the No1 team. We have lots of confidence going into this last leg and having played Fiji, who won London, in the semi-finals we know there are a couple of adjustments that we can make.
Last year Fiji were also aiming to win the title and were beaten to the trophy by South Africa in Paris and they will know we are going to be pushing hard and they will need to deliver their A game. I am sure the Fiji players will have last year on their minds and be remembering that South Africa took the trophy. They will not want to come up short again.
You know what you are going to get from Fiji and you won’t stop them from scoring with their off-loading game and our priority will be to capitalise on the chances we create. They are tough team, particularly at the breakdown and we need to change the picture of what the referee is seeing this weekend in this area.
They key will be to just concentrate on our game, come out firing a little stronger and not worry about what Fiji produce in this final leg.
I was really excited to get back out there with the team in London having been out for so long with my broken jaw. It brought home just how long I have been away and I really cannot force things and must take it slowly but that is easier said than done when you are so happy to be out there with the guys.
There is so much to play for in Paris with the teams at the bottom of the table, Japan, Kenya and Wales, fighting to avoid relegation and it makes it really exciting and whoever does drop down will be replaced by Ireland. They have been really impressive and we have seen this coming from them for some years and they will be a great addition to the series next year.
One of the real bonuses of having already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics is that we get the summer off which means spending time with my family. For those teams still battling to qualify there will be summer tournaments to deal with and you really have to hit the ground running after Paris to ensure you are ready for the next challenge. After we confirmed automatic qualification on the first day of the London sevens I was sitting in the locker room and suddenly realised “we have done it – Tokyo 2020.”
It was an amazing feeling and my mind went back four years and I remembered watching Fiji and England holding the sign for photographs recording the fact they had qualified for the Rio Olympics.
I have been knocked out by the reaction to the latest special documentary film made by HSBC which shows my sporting journey which has taken me to this amazing point and it’s now about making special memories.
The French Open tennis is taking place here in Paris at the moment but unfortunately, I won’t have any time to visit Roland Garros. The only thing on my mind is trying to help the team get that title.
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