2018 RWC 7s: Power play

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Fiji Rugby and the Rhino Rush LLC in UTAH. Picture: Supplied

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team will be a side packed with power, pace and unpredictability for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco next week.

The Gareth Baber-coached Fijians have some of the feared names in international rugby such as Josua ‘The Bus’ Tuisova, Semi ‘Semi-trailer’ Radradra, Semi “The Beast’ Kunatani and Leone ‘Octopus Hands’ Nakarawa.

Nicknamed because of their ruggedness at play, these Fijians and their teamates are expected to leave behind a trail of destruction once the dust settles at the AT & T Stadium in San Francisco on July 22.

After two solid weeks of training and fine-tuning in Utah, head coach Gareth Baber said he was impressed with the performance of these star players.

He said the overseas-based players would add the physicality in their game complemented by the trademark Fijian unorthodox game style.

“Having these four contracted players will add physicality to our game,” said Baber.

“Josua Tuisova is a strong ball carrier and tough in defence and attack. “Radradra is a very good defender and a solid player and again we have Semi Kunatani and Leone Nakarawa adding to Paula Dranisinukula, and few others in the team.

“We will also be doing the conditioning level we need to do to support the work done by our playmakers such as Jerry Tuwai, Vatemo Ravouvou, Amenoni Nasilasila and Waisea Nacuqu.”

Baber said discipline would be very crucial and the side would try and minimise errors since all games would be a do or die.

“There needs to be discipline from the starting game and we need to be very careful and we need to control the ball well.

“Also our kicking game s good and I have been working hard with Noni, Vatemo and Wise especially when we have quality ball winners such as Radradra, Kunatani, Jasa, Josh (Vakurunabili), Nakarawa and the likes.

Baber said he challenged the players to win aerial contest and most importantly make a good uses of their possessions and turn them into points.”

The side will play its first game on Saturday against the winner from the Japan versus Uruguay game.

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