It's kick off day for the much awaited Dubai 7s tournament as the Digicel Fiji 7s team aims to create history today by winning the IRB 7s series tournament in the United Arab Emirates for the first time.
It has been 13 years and the story for Fiji in Dubai has always been disappointing.
Many say it is time for our team to show that it can have the much needed consistency and momentum to win back to back tournaments.
Fiji created havoc in Gold Coast last month when we made the All Blacks 7s side look ordinary in the final beating them 32-14.
Now the NZ side is hurting and their coach, Gordon Tietjens hopes to turn on the magic from this evening.
Tietjens has said that Dubai is his favourite tournament out of all and it is a great tournament to win.
The 10 time Series winner said he has a lot of memories in Dubai.
When NZ lost for the second consecutive year to Fiji in Gold Coast, many NZ experts said the All Blacks 7s side did not taste victory due to the unavailability of all the players as the ITM competition was still underway.
Now they have the full set of players which include DJ Forbes, Tomasi Cama Junior, Sherwin Stowers, Tim Mickelson, Kurt Baker, Scott Curry and Lote Raikabula.
Meanwhile Fiji coach, Alifereti Dere said that they are focused on the task at hand in Dubai.
Three new players have been named in the Fiji 7's team's starting lineup for the first pool match.
Inia Tukere and Vilitati Sokiveta are in the forwards while speedster, Maleli Bula will be at wing.
Lepani Botia, Setefano Cakau, Joji Raqamate and Ilai Tinai are also in the starting lineup.
Fiji will play Spain at 6.50pm today, followed by Scotland at 10.36pm and then the final pool game is against Kenya at 3.58am tomorrow.
The Dubai 7s starts at 6.06pm today with France taking on Canada.
Barring any upsets, Fiji is expected to play New Zealand in the Cup final of the Dubai 7's this weekend.
The two teams will not clash before the Cup final if they top their respective pools and win their quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
Fiji is expected to meet either Australia or France in the Cup quarters and we may face defending champions England, Samoa or South Africa in the Cup semis.
The Cup quarterfinals start at 7.50pm tomorrow with the cup semifinals to start at 2.07am Sunday.
The Cup final will be played at 5.33am Sunday.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Dhanjay Deo
Feature
Fiji 7s team out to create history
