THE Fiji 7s team and the All Blacks Sevens teams showed their dominance early on day one of the 2019 Oceania Rugby Sevens Championships in Suva by scoring the biggest margins of the day at the ANZ Stadium.
In similar fashion, the traditional rivals outscored their opponents Niue and New Caledonia by 57-0 and will meet today in their pool decider.
Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber commended the kickstart.
“It’s a great start, but the challenge will be when they are under pressure,” Baber said.
Australia and Samoa also looked strong on day one with first round wins against Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea as they hunt for an Olympic Qualifier spot.
Australian coach Tim Walsh said it was important to get the Olympics spot.
“If we don’t win then we get a second chance in May through the repecharge, but that is something we don’t want to do,” Walsh said.
In the Women’s Olympics Qualifier, Papua New Guinea won its first match with an impressive 52-0 win against Tonga and the Pacific Games bronze medallist look set to challenge Samoa and the Fijiana for the two spots on offer.
“We have the potential and we can put some pressure on and push those big teams,” said PNG coach Paul Tietjens.
A milestone was also achieved with the first round of the Oceania Deaf 7s tournament.
Four teams compete in this year’s pioneer deaf 7s with Samoa and three Fiji teams going head to head.
Fiji Totokia beat Samoa in their first match 7-5 and the Fiji NaiUla beating Fiji Kiakara 27-17.
