Fiji slam Samoa in Sevens opener – and no body count needed much to Baber’s relief

It took all of 24 seconds for Fiji to make their intentions at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens crystal clear.

Eroni Sau was the man who crossed the line for that first try and the islanders went on to down Samoa 31-12 as they look to win the event for a record fourth straight time and an 18th time in total.

There were flashes all game of what makes this team special – and so loved in Hong Kong – with Amenoni Nasilasila’s second-half try the pick of the goodies on offer as he shifted right, then left and then over as the Samoans grasped at air.

But there was room for improvement, too, as the Samoans took the game to the champions in the second half.

Coach Gareth Baber cast a pleased but cautious figure by game’s end, having made five substitutions in the second half as he looked to give his squad a workout ahead of a Saturday that sees New Zealand looming large in the evening.

“When you get these two teams against each other sometimes by the end you need to do a body count but we all survived,” said Baber.