Nasilasila is Baber’s pick for impressive player in Marist 7s

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Ratu Filise’s Amenoni Nasilasila slice thorugh the Russian defenders during the Marist 7s quarterfinal at the ANZ Stadium yesterday. Nasilasila is Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber’s pick of the player from the Marist 7s tournament. Picture: JONA KONATACI

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team head coach Gareth Baber was impressed with the performance of former national playmaker Amenoni Nasilasila in the two days of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament.

Nasilasila played a vital role for the Coastline Ratu Filise team in the tournament with his skilled individual attack play and creating opportunities for tries and his rugged defence that attracted the attention of the Fiji 7s team coach.

Baber said he’s been watching Nasilasila for the past two days and was thrilled with his performance.

“I think for me the pick of the player for yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) was Amenoni Nasilasila because it’s tough to see the players with the pace and the off-loads skill and he stood out for the past two days but unfortunately for him I couldn’t see him in the final,” said Baber.

“In this wet weather it takes skilled players like Nasilasila to control possession and create spaces and opportunities to score tries. As the national 7s team gears up for the Hong Kong 7s in two weeks, Baber will not be looking at taking new players, however, he has eyed some during the tournament.

“The squad is picked and we fly off on Thursday and we are looking at taking players who are probably the fittest. And if we select players from here, they would probably be pressured but a prime example is Naduva whom I spotted at the Marist and he never made the Hong Kong tour but joined in after that for the rest of the season.

“I’ve seen probably four or five players who will be joining the squad later,” Baber said.

“I don’t want to name them because it will put a lot of pressure on them but I’ve been impressed with their performances.”

Meanwhile, the Ratu Filise team won the under-20 cup final as they edged RKSOB 15-10 after a gruesome sudden death match.

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