Best place to prepare before Dubai: Roberson

The Australian women’s 7s team are anticipating an exciting battle against the Fiji Airways Fijiana side in the 2017 Oceania 7s tournament which gets underway at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on November 10-11. Australia women 7s manager Dale Roberson believes the Fijians would be tough to beat on their home soil.

“Fiji have really improved in the 2016/17 Women’s Sevens Series and they will be strong in front of their home crowd,” he said.

“New Zealand are the current number one team in the series so they will provide a strong challenge with their physicality and differing styles of play. Other teams in the competition will be coming out very strongly.”

Roberson said this would be their final preparation for the first leg of the 2017/18 series to start in Dubai next month.

“It is a chance to build our combination, get some match fitness and also develop new players in the squad. Any chance to play against quality oppositions is positive. Some of the strongest teams in the Commonwealth Games are from the Oceania region and this helps in our preparation with a chance of playing against them.”

COOKS TO IMPROVE

The Cook Islands men’s team manager Simon Iopu Johnston believes the two-day tournament would help test their players skills and techniques.

“The Oceania tournament is a stepping stone for us as a developing rugby nation. It’s where we can test our playing and coaching abilities against the best players in the Oceania region. This year will be a good litmus test to see where we are in comparison to our performances in 2016. “Ideally we would want to be placed well at this year’s qualifiers but even more important to show improvement, be more competitive, play smarter and push beyond the larger nations,” Johnston added.

Edited by Osea Bola Feedback: anasilinir@fijisun.com.fj