Fiji 7s head coach Osea Kolinisau has set his sights on one clear objective for the 2024-2025 HSBC World Sevens Series: to win.
However, beyond that Kolinisau wants the team to showcase the results of their intense offseason training when they play in Dubai at the end of the month.
“To win, always the goal is to win when we go on tournaments,” Kolinisau said. “But I’d like the squad to show what we have done in the weeks of cycle of offseason and what we have been working together on game patterns. And all I want to see is consistency from the boys. In our defense, stay connected and communicate better.”
Kolinisau is pleased with the squad’s current fitness levels, highlighting improvements made during the six-week training period. His current focus is on refining defensive patterns and improving communication among players, particularly during critical moments of the game.
“Happy about our fitness level, the boys have improved,” he said. “Now we are just working on our patterns in defense. It is important—making sure that we are connected, that we are working together and communicating. I told them, you can’t switch off because the moment you do, that’s the time when the opposition strikes. So we are trying for them to work hard, making sure we are communicating when we are tired. We want to ensure they are talking, because it makes the work a lot easier.”
For Kolinisau, the emphasis is not only on physical fitness but also on cultivating a strong team spirit on and off the field.
“Always fitness, and attitude on and off the field,” he said. “This is a team sport; everyone needs to know the role we play. We want to be known as a team that plays together and looks out for each other.”
Final Squad Selection After Mataso 7s
The final selection for the Dubai 7s squad will be made this Saturday after the Mataso 7s tournament. Kolinisau plans to use the event to assess players’ adaptability and readiness for the international stage. He aims to test combinations and observe how players fit into different roles.
“We will be naming the team on Saturday, after the Mataso 7s,” Kolinisau confirmed. “It’s a chance to test combinations and gauge their readiness from the six weeks offseason. Playing together as a team—we want to see how the players adapt to the different positions and see what they are capable of, to understand what impact they can have.”
The 2-day Fiji Bitter Mataso 7s starts Friday at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
Tough Pool Awaits in Dubai
Fiji faces a challenging pool at the Dubai 7s, kicking off their campaign against Spain on November 30 at 6:06pm (Fiji Time), followed by a match against the USA at 9:52pm. The team will then face a stern test against New Zealand on December 1 at 3:16am before the Cup Quarterfinals later in the evening.
Kolinisau acknowledged the difficulty of their pool but remains confident in his team’s preparation and is looking forward to the competition.
“It’s a tough pool in Dubai. Every team wants to play in the quarterfinal. I know New Zealand are always strong and consistent, and they have set the standard for most series wins. It is an exciting opportunity for the boys that are going.”
