fiji gold weighs heavy on new rugby coach baber
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Fiji gold weighs heavy on new rugby coach Baber

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Fiji gold weighs heavy on new rugby coach Baber

Fiji's rugby sevens team under coach Gareth Baber
Hong Kong - Arab Today

A year ago Fiji were running away with the World Rugby Sevens Series, about to win a record 16th Hong Kong title and a few months away from precious Olympic gold.

Now they are struggling for form having lost key players and their lauded coach Ben Ryan.

The new man in charge, Gareth Baber, admits he is under huge pressure to get Fiji back to their all-conquering ways, starting with the defence of their Hong Kong crown early next month.

"The Fijians love Hong Kong, there's a mystique around playing in Hong Kong for the Fijians that brings added pressure," former Hong Kong coach Baber told AFP in a teleconference call.

The Pacific islanders have won more times in Hong Kong than anyone else and in four of the past five years.

"I suppose (it's) because people think you have a right to win there. I know exactly how difficult it's going to be," said Baber of the weight of expectation on his team at their "home" event in Hong Kong. 

The World Sevens Series champions for the past two seasons are yet to win a tournament this term. 

Their most recent outing was chastening -- a 40-7 semi-final thrashing by England in Vancouver. 

Welshman Baber only took over in December -- after the season's opening two tournaments in Dubai and South Africa -- and maintains that Fiji still possess "great talent".

South Africa have won four of the six World Sevens Series events this season with England taking the other two but Baber says his side remain competitive, the Vancouver "massive blooper" aside.  

"We haven't been far away. We lost 19-12 to South Africa in the final in Vegas," he said. 

"Apart from the massive blooper against England in Vancouver, we then went on to beat a very good US side that pushed South Africa all the way. There's not a lot between us." 

Sevens is Fiji's national sport and the team were given a rapturous reception after winning the nation's first Olympic medal, trouncing Great Britain in the Rio final to take gold. 

Baber knew following Ryan, who has legendary status in Fiji, would be tough especially during a period of transition. 

"Performances have been mixed but I think there's an inevitability about that with what the players have been through after the Olympics, the loss of some of the players and the change in coaching," he said. 

"Around six left from that Rio team which, when they've been playing over two or three years, is major chunk out of seven players on the field and 12 in the squad. 

"But this is a different team and it will evolve. It's not at the performance level I want it to be at moment but we are all working hard." 

Source: AFP

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

fiji gold weighs heavy on new rugby coach baber fiji gold weighs heavy on new rugby coach baber



GMT 07:22 2017 Monday ,20 November

Honda recalls 800,000 minivans over faulty seats

GMT 07:15 2017 Thursday ,30 November

Colombian President invites UAE companies

GMT 13:44 2013 Wednesday ,07 August

Chinese game developers bet on smartphone games

GMT 10:30 2011 Tuesday ,23 August

The Arab-Spanish investment forum 2011

GMT 10:49 2017 Monday ,06 November

Britain frozen out as EU finance chiefs plot future

GMT 14:30 2017 Wednesday ,06 December

India scent Test victory as pollution makes bowlers vomit

GMT 12:32 2018 Tuesday ,16 October

Runaway former sex offender nabbed in Thailand

GMT 16:34 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

Afghan capital attack toll jumps to 16

GMT 20:32 2013 Monday ,17 June

Porsche finds a new target audience

GMT 10:13 2011 Sunday ,31 July

Distressed debt firm eyes Nakheel creditors

GMT 18:25 2016 Thursday ,08 September

Ex-Lankan president’s ‘vanity airline’ grounded

GMT 21:02 2018 Wednesday ,05 September

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Russia’s Urals region

GMT 18:54 2014 Tuesday ,14 January

Cobalt nanoparticles applied in designing biosensor

GMT 12:00 2013 Wednesday ,31 July

Saudi consumers given teeth whitening kit warning

GMT 14:26 2014 Wednesday ,12 February

Earthquake behind shroud of Turin image

GMT 08:58 2014 Wednesday ,15 January

\'Lone Survivor\' blows away North American box office

GMT 15:32 2015 Sunday ,27 September

Thousands march to remember Mexico's missing students

GMT 01:25 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Strong Earthquake Strikes Off Coast of Fiji

GMT 12:51 2011 Friday ,08 July

No plans to merge Gazprom and Naftogaz
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday