Hong Kong Sevens 2022: Fiji’s young stars have ‘big shoes to fill’ – but are already soaking up the big occasion
- Islanders are gunning for sixth Hong Kong title in a row and start their campaign on Friday with a 59-12 victory over Japan
- ‘They grow up watching it and seeing so many of their heroes play and now this is their time,’ head coach Ben Gollings says
Japan gave Fiji a scare on Friday night as the islanders opened up a campaign that is aimed at a sixth consecutive Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens title. It lasted about 10 seconds.
After Taisei Hayash had crossed wide and left for an opening try scored basically from the hooter, the Fijians proceeded to do what the Fijians so often do at the Hong Kong Stadium. They took control.
Play resumed and Viwa Naduvalo quickly got the ball in his hands and he bullocked his way over the line, and all was right with the world, as the final scoreline read 59-12.
Ben Gollings is their coach as they seek to add to their legend this weekend and the Englishman has carved a few of his own here, four titles coming with England along with his position as one of the Hong Kong event’s “Magnificent 7s”.
He was delighted with the start and knows harder tests are ahead – the first of which looms against Pool C rival USA on Saturday afternoon.
“I wasn’t the best way to get into it but it’s sevens,” he said. “I think the key is to just get the ball back and control the ball, and if we control the ball we can control the game. It’s good for us to handle that pressure and a bit of a learning curve.”
The Fijians have arrived with 10 of their 13-man squad making their Hong Kong debuts – and Gollings is deep in the process of forming the next generation of sevens stars with the reigning World Cup and Olympic champions.
“We’ve been working hard on the islands,” he said. “There a lot of players who have been playing in a lot of tournaments and getting game time. We’ve been developing this squad and now it’s a great opportunity and it’s a big one, in Hong Kong, and they handled it well. We hope they just build through the tournament now.”
Gollings pointed to Pilipo Bukayaro at halfback as one to watch as the tournament progresses. The 23-year-old has come in to replace none other than the great Jerry Tuwai, who played a pivotal role as Fiji marched to their five straight pre-pandemic titles but this time around has been left home to rest and recover from what has been an arduous year on the world sevens circuit.
“Those are pretty big shoes to fill with Jerry not here but he’s a fantastic little player,’ said Gollings, who is also pretty keen on the pace of Iowane Teba, who came on in the second half on Friday and duly crossed for three tries.
Gollings admitted he’d had a few chats with the younger members of his squad, given the enormity of the event in general, and in terms of its place in Fijian folklore.
He believes Tuwai has, too, in the lead up to the event, in the veterans role as the elder statesman of Fijian sevens.
“I told them to really cherish it and make the most of this occasion,” said Gollings. “It’s a huge tournament for Fiji and it’s a special tournament. They grow up watching it and seeing so many of their heroes play and now this is their time.
“It’s not about what has happened in the past and pressure of [winning] six tournaments, it’s about making the most of this opportunity here and now.”
