The Fiji Air­ways Fiji men’s rugby sevens team must change their style of play if they are to stay ahead of their opponents during the HSBC SVNS Series.

This was the view of sevens maes­tro Waisale Serevi during an inter­view with SUNsports in Labasa.

“It’s time to create a new brand of attacking play to outsmart opposi­tions,” he said.

Serevi highlighted the current style of play by the Fiji team is similar to other teams.

“They (Fiji) have become predict­able to other teams,” he said.

“I’ve seen that the other teams (in the series) are playing our style of sevens rugby. We’ve lost our uniqueness be becoming predict­able to the oppositions.”

The late Fiji men’s rugby sevens coach Ratu Kitione Tuibua along with the members of the Nabua sevens side created the six defend­ers and one sweeper behind the line format in the late 1980s.

Ser­evi effectively played the sweeper’s role and Fiji dominated the Hong Kong Sevens and other interna­tional sevens’ tournaments during that era.

The Rio Olympic Games gold medal win in 2016 was when coach Ben Ryan used speed, avoid­ed contact and utilised the off-loading abilities of the Fijian players to their advantage.

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medal success, was when coach Gareth Baber used power, physicality and defence to outplay their overpower their op­ponents.

Serevi said Fiji sevens coach, Osea Kolinisau, is building-up a good team and they have played so far this season.

The Fijian sevens won the open­ing leg of the SVNS Sevens Series in Dubai last December and lead the series points table with Spain and Argentina.

Serevi said, their downfall so far is the inability of the players to create space and this is from their lack of vision when on attack.

“I believe this has contrib­uted to some of their losses this season.”

When asked of his view of overseas sevens teams coming here to learn our style of rugby and then use it to defeat us.

Serevi said this ex­change of rugby knowl­edge must continue, but our players should be on top of their game.

“In order to the best sevens team in the world, we have to play the best and become an effective brand of rugby,” he re­iterated.

Serevi, said the competitive spirit of the series meant low ranked teams were now challenging Fiji.

In the recent Perth tournament, minnows Uruguay stunned Fiji 24- 17 in a major upset.

He said having a unique style of play would keep the opposition guessing and help Fiji win more matches and tournaments.

Serevi said: “Each game a different version of our new brand of rugby plan should be used and I believe Kolini­sau can achieve this.”

He said the team must allow for­mer players who are ready to assist the team in trying to create a new style of play.

Sevens a vehicle to drive

Serevi said sevens rugby is a vehi­cle to drive new developing teams.

“Sevens gives new developing teams a chance to beat the bigger teams,” he added.

Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj