Controlled chaos play is the central point of what has made Fiji 7s the best in the world and I believe it comes from how the players grew up in Fiji and the surfaces they play on and bare feet.
This was highlighted by former Fiji Men’s 7s and Olympic gold medalist and current National Program Manager for Fiji 7s, Gareth Baber during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Baber says it is also a fact that the game is played at almost chest height and above and that there is this touch element that goes into it which is the “one touch” that is played in villages as kids grow up.
He says there is a real subtlety and understanding of how you coach that and how you give it freedom but also how you replicate it for others to provide a context on when it can and can’t be done.
Baber says 7s rugby is more different from 15s rugby because in 7s rugby, you are almost trying to create structures and the systems in the game which gets you to the try line and then that’s when Fijians come alive and it is also why Fijians are the best in scoring tries with the fewest rucks and passes on the field.
He says the Fijians are probably one of the best teams scoring off the transitional turnover balls because that’s when the defence is least organised and where Fijians can play that instinctive game that they have grown up with.
He adds that is how current Fiji 7s coach Osea Kolinisau grew up playing the game and he loves the way Kolinisau played it and is now coaching it.
The Fiji Men’s 7s team will begin their Hong Kong 7s campaign against Australia at 9.30pm this Friday. They will then take on Canada at 12.33am Saturday and play France at 5.43pm Saturday in their final pool match. The Fijiana 7s side will play Australia at 4.25pm Friday in their first match, followed by their match against South Africa at 7.12pm Friday, and they will play Ireland at 3.02pm Saturday in their final pool match. The Hong Kong 7s will be held from Friday to Sunday.
