Baber on the mend

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Second day at Cape Town 7s for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018, Cape Town, South Africa – Photos Martin Seras Lima

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team coach Gareth Baber is on the comeback trail after winning the South Africa 7s in Cape Town yesterday. His side beat USA in the Cup final and Fiji’s first title victory in the start of the 2018-2019 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Baber, after the final, showed that he is on the mend and thanked all Fijian fans in Cape Town and around the world for their continuous support to the team.

Fiji did not start well in Dubai last weekend.

Despite their poor performance in the past two weeks, Baber was obliged with the support of the Fijian fans who showed up to cheer for his boys, especially in South Africa where our fans were outnumbered in the semi-final clash against the hosts.

Baber said the handful of support added extra firepower to his boys and he appreciated all those who showed up to cheer the team.

“Fijian fans are everywhere in the world and wherever we travel,” he said. “We say a big thank you to all those people who made such an effort to come and support the team here.”

The players played consistent rugby from the pool games when they thrashed France 50-nil, defeated Kenya 38-7 and edged their toughest pool opponent England 21-19.

The quarter-final against Spain was dominated by the Fijians as they crushed Spain 46-7, but the much anticipated match of the tournament was the semi-final against hosts South Africa.

The teams were locked 12 – 12 before Alasio Naduva broke the Springboks defence in the last seconds of play to score the winning try with only six players after Vatemo Ravouvou was given a yellow card.

Baber said playing against South Africa on their home soil was a “do or die match” because they had not won a tournament in South Africa for 13 years.

Fiji defeated USA in the final 29-15, while South Africa edged New Zealand in the bronze medal playoff 10-5.

Fiji is third on the table with 35 points behind New Zealand with 37 points and the USA leads the points table with 38 points. The next tournament will be the HSBC Hamilton 7s from January 26 – 27 next year.

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