Kolinisau Works on Transferring Momentum from Singapore Win into Perth 7s
Following a thrilling victory at the HSBC SVNS Singapore 7s, Fiji Airways Fijian 7s coach Osea Kolinisau has praised the work ethic of his stars and the vital contribution of his entire squad, while also celebrating successful debuts as the team looks ahead to the Perth leg.
The coach singled out playmaker Vuiviawa, whose standout performance was a key factor in clinching the Cup final. Kolinisau attributed this success to relentless dedication behind the scenes.
“Yeah, Vuiviawa is someone who works really hard in training and you can see that pay-off when he’s playing,” Kolinisau said. “And hats off to the boys around him as well, it’s a team sport. Most of the boys they put Vuiviawa into space and Vuiviawa works his magic.”
Kolinisau revealed he had challenged Vuiviawa to elevate his all-round game earlier in the season. “I had a word with Vuiviawa before we started Dubai, telling him I needed him not only in attack but also in defence,” he explained, adding that his versatility is a major asset.
“Sometimes we try him out at playmaker because he’s good with his feet and he creates space for others. But it’s good to see Vuiviawa with the fine form he’s on. To me it’s just the hard work he puts into training is paying off.”
The victory in Singapore was also a memorable one for debutants Nacani Boginisoko and Douglas Daveta.
“Yeah, I’m very happy and excited for the boys to get a win in their debut tournament,” a pleased Kolinisau shared.
“Not a lot get to do that… and to me it’s exciting because it’s their first tournament and they are showing out. They’ll grow even more and provide even more for the team as they start to get comfortable at this level.”
As the tour shifts immediately to Perth for another back-to-back tournament, the coach acknowledged the physical and mental challenge of maintaining consistency. His strategy hinges on deep squad rotation and collective responsibility.
“Yeah, we’re going to see how the boys feel and make sure we play some of the boys that are fresh,” he said regarding selection for Perth. “I know it’s a tough tournament but then it comes down to how the boys feel.”
Kolinisau then emphasised his core philosophy: “And to me I’ve always trusted the 13 boys, I’ve never trusted only 7. I always told the boys that we play as a 13-man squad so everybody needs to play their part.”
With his sights now set on continuing the winning momentum, the coach confirmed the plan is to regroup quickly.
“I know our boys are going to be tough this weekend in Perth but this week is all about getting the boys’ mindset right again, get their body right and when the weekend comes around then we’re ready to go again.”
The Perth 7s starts this Saturday with Fiji placed in Pool A with Argentina they play at 4.20pm followed by their match against Spain at 7.36pm and their final Pool match at 10:52pm against South Africa.
The tournament is scheduled between the 7th and 8th of February and you can watch all Fiji’s matches LIVE on FBC TV.