The Digicel Fiji Sevens Team’s poor defense pattern stood out like a sore thumb in all of their pool games in the Dubai Sevens although they still came out in the number one spot.
Fiji defeated Portugal 31-7 in the first game then proved too strong for France winning 35-5 in the second pool game but against England, the side lost 26-21.
In the last pool game against England, Fiji allowed their opponent to come back into the game and it resulted in a last minute try which saw the English winning by 26-21.
Coach Iliesa Tanivula said that they cannot complain about what has happened but they have to work on their weakness ahead of their quarterfinal tonight.
Meanwhile, Dubai Sevens defending champion and New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said his boys need to lift their performance as the road gets tougher today.
New Zealand will meet Wales in the quarterfinals and according to Tietjens, they cannot be play defensive rugby in this crucial match as his boys did in the pool matches yesterday.
Looking at the quarterfinals tonight, at 7.48pm Samoa will take on USA, Fiji will face South Africa at 8.10pm, Australia plays England at 8.32pm and New Zealand up against Wales at 8.54pm.
In at the results of this morning’s matches, South Africa and Scotland played to a 19-all draw, USA beat Zimbabwe 28 12, Portugal 26 14 France, Australia 28 19 Russia, Samoa defeated Kenya 26 7, New Zealand 24-19 Argentina and in the last game of day 1 Australia 19-14 South Africa.
Story by: Dhanjay Deo
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