1
Perry Baker column: Fiji's Jerry Tuwai is a remarkable player
Jerry Tuwai is a truly remarkable rugby player. Every time he gets the ball something magical happens and that is why he is so important to the Fiji team that won an incredible fifth successive Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens title.
ADVERTISEMENT
Winning one title in Hong Kong is an outstanding achievement but FIVE in a row – now that is something special because it is the biggest Sevens tournament of them all.
I love watching Jerry in action for Fiji and he is one of the best players on the circuit. I have seen Jerry step past guys when there is no space to do anything. His footwork gets him out of trouble while his ball handling is unbelievable.
Jerry is also a really tough guy who reads the game well and is a very effective sweeper for Fiji – he does it all to the delight of their amazing fans who have been featured in a special HSBC mini-film.
The mini-films are designed to showcase the growth of Sevens by profiling the sport’s incredible fans and athletes. I’m honoured to have been chosen to feature in the next HSBC film HSBC.
(Continue reading below…)
While it may sound biased, I also believe that my USA team-mate Carlin Isles is up there with Tuwai in terms of delivering those special moments and we saw in Hong Kong more examples of his blistering pace which creates match-winning tries. He got two big tries against South Africa and in Las Vegas there were key tries against New Zealand
Great players like Tuwai and Isles step up and produce the goods when it counts. Isles is the top try scorer in the Series this season with 41 and made the latest Dream Team along with Tuwai. I would love to see those two playing in the same side.
ADVERTISEMENT
One guy on the circuit who proves that hard work can be just as effective as natural talent is Werner Kok of South Africa. He is an example of a player who gives absolutely everything.
Notice anything a little different at the Hong Kong Sevens? The new goal light technology tested out was lighting the sevens up #HK7s pic.twitter.com/MG59dvuPGU
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 11, 2019
Fiji head into the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore just seven points behind the USA in the overall standings with three legs to go. Once again it’s going to be an incredible finish in Paris. Last year, South Africa pipped Fiji for the overall title and everyone involved with the USA squad are determined to hold onto that No1 position which we have worked so hard to achieve.
Coming into this Series our initial target was a top-four finish to ensure automatic qualification for the Sevens at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year and we need just another quarter-final appearance to give us the necessary points to make that a reality. While that will be a fantastic achievement, our sights are firmly on being the No1 team at the end of this Series and we showed in Hong Kong that while we were short of our best, we are ready to fight for every point and ended up third.
It really doesn’t matter how you get out of the pool stages because it’s all about getting a ticket for the play-off dance and it sums up the attitude that our coach Mike Friday instils in us every day. He wants a squad of “dawgs” who are prepared to battle it out even if things are not going all our way. While I recovered from the double-break of my jaw, this period on the touchline has made me even more determined to come back fully embracing that never-say-die attitude.
ADVERTISEMENT
If you can stay in the arm wrestle no matter what, then Friday is happy and that is how I want to be when I come back in London. I want to be a real work-horse for the team and never stop. That is why it was so good to be given the all-clear on Wednesday by my specialist to start full contact training now that my jaw has fully healed.
It was great for all the guys in the USA squad to be recognised with the team of the month award from United States Olympic Committee. Our success in the Series really has started to make an impact at home.
PREVIEW: Series leaders @USARugby are chasing @Olympics qualification with Singapore on the horizon https://t.co/kq2TyyPx2L pic.twitter.com/kyVsu1Qacb
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 10, 2019
Everyone loves a team ranked No1 in the world. I was talking to my step-son’s baseball coach and he was asking me all about the Sevens Series and had tuned into the Hong Kong matches. HSBC grassroots programmes are providing a platform for future generations of rugby talent and Sevens is playing a key role in the growth of the game.
During Singapore 7s week there has been a rugby clinic for girls between the age of 12-19, supported by coaches from the Singapore Rugby Union and rugby legends Huriana Manuel and Waisale Serevi, who are such inspirational figures in our sport.
We know everyone is now gunning for us as the No1 team and we have to just keep battling and putting in those big performances because the title could go all the way down to Paris.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton explore the rugby sights of Singapore
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