The wait is finally over

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Fiji Airways Fiji Sevens during a training run . Picture: SUPPLIED.

Yesterday’s editorial was a powerful beast, as it drove emotions and thrills up the spine.

These lines have added spice, as we count days to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, “Members of the national side were finally living their dreams. Never before had Fiji been pushed onto such a stage, where the global audience figures could reach dizzying heights. What a final! What an achievement! It felt good to be a Fijian. It certainly felt good to be sitting on top of the world.”

The agonising wait is over. 7s coach Gareth Baber had one week after the victory in Townsville to pen his dream team to defend the Olympic Games gold medal in Tokyo.

I had identified bulk of the players who were capable of making the cut to Tokyo. I had predicted Kalione Nasoko, Josua Vakurinabili, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Iosefo Masi, Semi Radradra, Vilimoni Botitu, Waisea Nacuqu, Napolioni Bolaca, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Jerry Tuwai to be part of the team, but I had left out Asaeli Tuivuaka because of his injury. Surprisingly, Alasio Naduva missed the cut, and Sireli Maqala, Kitione Taliga, Joseva Talacolo and Kavekini Tabu were named as the 13th player.

The wait is over, and it’s time for Gareth Baber and the boys to prepare well so that they can defend the gold medal. Our pool opponents are tough, looking at the sides that they have named. Canada has roped in Phil Berna, Connor Braid, Andrew Coe, Justin Douglas, Harry Jones, Mike Fuailefau, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama, Patrick Kay, Matt Mullins, Theo Sauder, Jake Thiel and Connor Trainor.

Great Britain has named a powerful side and included the likes of Alec Coombes, Ben Harris, Ethan Waddleton, Ross McCann, Alex Davis, Tom Mitchell, Dan Bibby, Dan Norton, Robbie Ferguson, Harry Glover, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Max McFarland and Tom Bowen, while Japan has called up the likes of Kippei Ishida, Ryota Kano, Jose Seru, Kameli Soejima, Naoki Motomura, Lote Tuqiri, Kazushi Hano, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Yoshikazu Fujita, Brackin Henry, Colin Bourke and Chihiti Matasui. Our opponents have named strong squads that are capable of causing upsets.

Top sides like USA, Australia and NZ have also named strong sides.

USA has included Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Maceo Brown, Madison Hughes, Martin Iosefo, Carlin Isles, Matai Leuta, Folau Niua, Ben Pinkelman, Stephen Tomasin, Joe Schroeder and Kevon Williams.

The All Blacks dropped the bomb on Caleb Clarke, Akuila Rokolisoa and Vilimoni Koroi, but they have depth, power and pace in Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson, Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, Andrew Knewstubb, Ngarohi Mcgarvey-Black, Sione Molia, Tone Ng Shiu, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Regan Ware and Joe Webber.

Australia has Lachlan Anderson, Joe Pincus, Dylan Pietsch, Nicholas Malouf, Henry Paterson, Maurice Longbottom, Joshua Coward, Joshua Turner, Lachlan Miller, Samu Kerevi, Dietrich Roache and Henry Hutchison.

Fiji has participated in top local 7s tournaments, and has rubbed shoulders with Australia and NZ, but the Olympics is the mecca, and a heavy performance is needed, knowing that the gold medal will take away the pain created by the pandemic.
Toso Viti.

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