The Fiji Men’s Rugby 7s team needs to understand that winning the first two gold medals in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics gives them no right to think that they will win gold again in Paris.
This was highlighted by former Fiji 7s Strength and Conditioning Coach and current Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Head of Athletics Performance Nacanieli Cawanibuka while speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Cawanibuka says this is going to be a clear scoreboard, a level playing field and it is going to be anyone's game.
He says the Olympic Games is something that Fiji has been blessed to have built a legacy around with the previous two gold medal wins, and now the team going into this year’s Olympics is a fresh new slate but the players know the weight on their shoulders.
He adds as much as the players will try and put the weight on their shoulders aside, they know that the expectations from the fans are there.
Cawaniubuka also mentioned how coach Osea Kolinisau wanted to put a big emphasis on getting support from former national players and current senior players like Fiji 7s legend Jerry Tuwai.
He says having Tuwai and some players and staff from the previous Tokyo campaign again in the team for this Olympics is a big influence and very important as well in terms of mental preparations.
Cawanibuka says having former coach Gareth Baber assisting the team as well is also crucial for the team’s preparation.
Fiji will face Uruguay at 3am next Thursday in their first match, they will then take on the USA at 6.30am on the same day, before playing hosts France at 1.30am next Friday in their final pool match.
The Men’s quarter finals will kick off at 7am next Friday. The semi finals will kick off at 1.30am next Sunday, and the final will be at 5.45am Sunday.
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