THE Counties Manukau Sevens team is hoping the presence of towering Fijian lock Sikeli Nabou will help them claim the New Zealand National Sevens title in Rotorua this weekend.
The talismanic 1.97 metre Steelers forward, who booked a place in the union’s folklore when he dotted down for the match winning try in its maiden Ranfurly Shield win against Hawke’s Bay in 2013, will lead the squad which is attempting to break its 20-year title drought.
The side, which is coached by Samoan legend Semo Sititi and former Black Ferns coach Darryl Suasua, has been on a hot streak of form including winning the Northern Regional Sevens title in December and finishing runners-up at a warm-up tournament in Mount Maunganui last weekend.
Suasua said having Nabou, who had earned the nickname Slippery Eel, in the squad had been a big advantage for them.
“He knows the game well —— I guess every Fijian knows sevens well,” he said.
“Being as big as he is, he is great in terms of off-loading and it takes more than one guy to get him down. He is a handful when he is running with the ball and defensively he has been exceptional – he tends to get underneath guys and tie them up ball-and-all.”
Counties will not lack firepower with NZ 7s stars Sherwin Stowers and Sam Vaka, along with Samoan international Ahsee Tuala, in the squad.
Suasua said having their experience would be important as they strive for a weekend of consistent performances.
“In sevens tournaments you never know what is going to happen —— anyone can beat anyone on any given day —— we just want consistency,” he said.
“In the tournaments we have been in, we have always had one game that has not been so good and if we go to the nationals and have one of those games, it might cost us.”
Counties’ extended 16-man squad, which will be cut to 12 for the weekend, includes just three players —— Tuala, Tyrone Lefau and Jason Guthrie —— from last year’s side.
Suasua said that had made space for an exciting group of youngsters including stand-outs Epeli Lotawa from Onewhero and Wesley College’s Jonathan Taumateine, who was the side’s player of the tournament at the northern regional competition.
