Fiji 7s Coach Osea Kolinisau Reflects on Semi-Final Loss to South Africa
Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s coach Osea Kolinisau expressed disappointment following their 10-12 semi-final loss to South Africa at the Vancouver 7s. He highlighted the team’s failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities and emphasized the need for improved execution and decision-making before the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about the team’s potential in future tournaments.
Osea Kolinisau, the head coach of the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s team, expressed disappointment following their narrow loss to South Africa in the cup semi-final at the Vancouver 7s, with a final score of 10-12. Upon arrival at the Nadi International Airport, he acknowledged that the team failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, stating, “We had a lot of opportunities, there’s no excuse.”
Kolinisau noted the crucial moment when South Africa received a red card, emphasizing that his players lost control and reverted to individual play rather than executing their game strategy. He highlighted the importance of sticking to the game plan, which involved attacking South Africa on the edges to exploit their defensive structure.
The coach further lamented the team’s approach, stating they lacked composure after taking an early lead, saying, “We didn’t need to rush anything. We could have just stayed in control.” He highlighted that Fiji had multiple opportunities to score but failed to convert effectively, which ultimately cost them the match.
The South African team was able to capitalize on Fiji’s missed conversion chances, which proved detrimental. Kolinisau mentioned, “We should have won that game and it’s hurting the boys.” He conveyed his team’s disappointment, acknowledging their missed chances but maintained that they are still in contention for the series, being just a few points behind Argentina and Spain.
Looking ahead, Kolinisau affirmed that the team intends to focus on improving ball possession, decision-making, and conversion skills before departing for the Hong Kong Sevens. He expressed his gratitude towards the players, underlining that they win and lose as a collective unit and stressed the need for hard work ahead of future tournaments.
In summary, Coach Kolinisau’s reflections on the Fiji 7s team’s performance reveal the need for improved execution of strategies and conversion of opportunities. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about their potential in upcoming competitions, emphasizing team cohesion as essential for success.
In conclusion, Coach Osea Kolinisau acknowledged the Fiji 7s team’s inability to convert scoring opportunities during their semi-final loss to South Africa. He expressed disappointment in the team’s performance and identified key areas for improvement prior to the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens. Maintaining a focus on teamwork and strategic execution will be crucial for their success as they aim to move up in the standings.
Original Source: www.fijitimes.com.fj
