Team captains - for both men and women's teams at the Paris Olympics. Photo: World Rugby
A famous Fijian saying states, 'sivi mada na veikau qai kalu'.
Loosely translated in English it says, 'only whistle when you have gone past the forest'.
What the saying basically means is don't try and pre-determine the end result because you don't know what will happen until you have done what you are supposed to do.
That is the attitude of the Fijian and Samoan men's sevens teams now in Paris, getting ready to kick-off their competition at the Stade de France from Thursday morning (NZ time).
Despite poor seasons in the HSBC SVNS Series in 2023 and 2024, both teams are focused on getting the job done.
It will not be easy.
Rugby pundits have virtually written both teams off.
Fiji, who will be defending the titles they won in 2016 and 2020, are going in to try and record their third title in a row.
That is a tough ask - everyone, including head coach Osea Kolinisau and players in the Fijian side know that.
They are in Pool C with Uruguay, USA and France.
While the game against Uruguay might seem easy, it will be a game of pressure, on the Fijians, who will have everything to lose.
USA and France have both beaten Fiji in the past two years.
Samoa, under coach Muliagatele Brian Lima, are in Pool B.
They face Australia, Kenya and Argentina in pool play, opening the competition against the Aussies in the very first game on Thursday morning.
The Fijian men's team with their jerseys after the jersey presentation at the Games Village on Wednesday morning (NZ Time). Photo: Team Fiji Photo: Team Fiji
Finishing in the bottom end of the HSBC Series this year saw them having to go through the play-off.
That did not finish well for them and they are now out of the regular series.
Lima said they want to compete at the Olympics and do their best, even with a tough pool.
"We know it has not been an easy year for us," he told RNZ Pacific.
"There have been a lot of challenges for us but we are prepared and we will do our best."
Va'afauese Apelu Malliko leads a team that is raring to cause some upsets at the competition.
The Samoans face Australia and Argentina on Thursday morning before meeting Kenya on Friday.
Many are tipping host France, 2024 HSBC winner Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland as the top favourites to claim the men's title.
So, Fiji, even as defending champions, will go in as the underdog.
Gold medallists Fiji celebrate during the men’s rugby sevens medal ceremony during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo/AFP Photo:
Osea says team is focused
Fiii's mentor Kolinisau is no stranger to the Olympics.
He was captain in 2016 when they created history winning the first-ever Olympic sevens rugby gold medal - which was also Fiji's first at the Games.
He told FBC Sports they will focus on one game at a time.
That means their goal right now is Uruguay, who they face at 3am Fiji and New Zealand time on Thursday.
Kolinisau knows that result will determine how they go in the pool stages, because he believes Uruguay will throw everything at them.
"I know Uruguay will throw everything they have and I'm reminding the boys that this is the Olympics they will give everything they have and they'll throw in the kitchen sink," he told FBC Sports in Paris.
After the captain's run on Wednesday morning, Kolinisau believes the defending champs are ready, and they've done their part with his assistant Setefano Cakau, consultant Gareth Baber and trainer Ian Gibbons.
"You know it's a tough job, it's like holding a chained dog back that is trying and really wanting to play," he told FBC Sports.
"We are just making sure when they should release it, we want to release them at the right time and I think the time has come and we've spoken about it with the boys and management, we know that now it's in the boy's hands.
"We're happy where we at right now compared to when we first started."
Uruguay captain Diego Ardo says they've done it before against Fiji and have what it takes to do it again.
"We know how Fiji plays with their offloads, power with one against one but we've focused on ourselves on how to defend and attack them," the nippy player said.
Two-times gold medalist Jerry Tuwai has been named captain of the side.
He had to come off a seven month lay-off to get to top level match-fitness.
And he knows a lot is against them.
He told FBC Sports months of commitment and sacrifices will now be put to the test from Thursday.
"I think we have done our part from the months of training in Fiji coming to the three weeks in Libourne," he said.
"I believe we have done our part of things, we believe too as a team that we'll deliver in our first game tomorrow."
Tuwai told World Rugby the main goal for them is to come and defend their Olympic gold.
"I'm very happy to be back. It was emotional for me when I was left out for some Series events but I'm really happy to be here and going for another gold medal," he said.
"It will be a great atmosphere and the pressure from the crowd will be on us to deliver when we play against France. Dupont is a very good player that influences people and makes other players around him tick and he has my respect, just the same as everyone else."
Fiji faces Uruguay at 3am on Thursday and then battle USA at 6.30 am.
Their last game is against France at 1.30am on Friday.
The Samoan team training in Paris for the sevens competition. Photo: Team Fiji Photo: Samoa Rugby
Commentator says it can be done
Fijian rugby commentator Satish Narain believes the team can still achieve their goal of winning their third medal.
It will be tough and will require teamwork throughout.
"One thing is for sure judging from the intense competition and the improvement of teams in the recent HSBC SVNS Series that the battle in Paris will be brutal," he said.
He said the pressure will be on two teams, more than any other - Fiji, two-time gold winners, and France who play at home.
"That alone can be a tough one to handle. But Fiji have shown that they are made for the big dance and did that well in Tokyo to defend gold," he said.
"The only thing different from Tokyo to Paris will be that Japan didn't make it to the playoffs but I expect France to be there and tipped to be on the opposite side of the draw to Fiji and who knows a possible Fiji - France final.....that will be swashbuckling."
Narain said Paris presents a huge test for Kolinisau who aims to become the first man in the world to have won an Olympic gold as a player and a coach.
Here are some scenarios that Narain believes Fiji will go through, either way:
- Fiji wins Pool C - they go to the bottom half of the draw in the playoffs and set up a likely quarterfinal clash with the runner-up from Pool A which could be New Zealand or Ireland. Victory will take them to the semifinal where they will face the in-form Argentina if they win their 1/4 vs the best third placed team in the pool.
- Fiji finishes as runner-up in Pool C - our side goes in the top half of the draw and I think on form our side will meet Pool C runner-up Australia in the quarterfinal. Victory over the OZ 7s will see us clash against the Pool A winner NZ or Ireland if they win their 1/4 vs the 2nd best 3rd placed in pool.
"It is going to be tough. Even to get a bronze medal, it is going to be cut-throat right throughout. Our side needs to take one game at a time.
"Nothing is Impossible. If you believe, you can achieve!"
Sevens at its 'breathtaking best' - World Rugby
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said they are excited for the competition in Paris.
"We anticipate a 'coming of age' event as rugby sevens kicks off the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France," he told World Rugby media.
"The Paris Games is the jewel in the crown of the biggest-ever sevens season. The stage is set for what will be a spectacular celebration of our sport at its breathtaking best."
Paris 2024 executive sports director Aurelie Merle said "it is going to be a big day for Rugby Sevens, and it's also a big day for us at Paris 2024, with the start of competitions in both rugby and football. It is our 'kick-off'. The stage is set - and what a stage!"
France men's captain Paulin Riva said they are out to win the event.
"We want to catch this medal. We have had an amazing season and we have a lot of confidence and experience against the big teams like Argentina, Fiji and New Zealand so we feel good and we just want to get on to the field," he said.
"It will be a big atmosphere in Stade de France and we are very happy to see this for rugby sevens."
On Antoine Dupont's impact he added: "We think Antoine is the best player in the world and when he is on the pitch we feel a lot of confidence and it's very good for the team."
The 12 teams are ready. The men will take centre stage for the next four days.
Next week is another story.
It's is redemption time.
For Fiji men's sevens, at least!
