Fiji team huddle before the game against Uruguay on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 24 July 2024 in Paris. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee - KLC
The Fiji men's sevens team will be taking "one game at a time" and stay focused on the legacy they want to leave behind at the Paris Olympics.
The sevens rugby double Olympic champions showed the world their flair and style early Thursday morning (NZ Time), when they won their two pool matches against Uruguay and USA.
The wins have seen them qualify for the quarterfinals, joining Argentina, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.
But head coach Osea Kolinisau and captain Jerry Tuwai say they continue to focus on game by game on the field, respecting all teams in the competition and staying humble.
Fiji kicked off their title defence with a statement 40-12 win over Uruguay and staged a festival of attacking, offloading rugby to beat USA 38-12.
"We have this sweet rivalry in these tournaments," Tuwai said.
"At every tournament, anything can happen, we just have to take one game at a time."
The double Olympic gold medalist said they cannot underestimate any team, as all were strong and wanting to win.
"We have respect for all the teams, especially New Zealand," he said.
"We have been fighting for these tournaments for so long.
"France is doing better and we are coming to their home ground and they will be good, Argentina too and Australia is here. For us, we have a legacy to defend here in Paris."
That legacy, coach Kolinisau said, is defending the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games gold medal wins.
He led the team at the 2016 even and lifted the first gold medal in sevens rugby and for Fiji back then.
"Success here is defending our legacy," he said.
"I know we have a tough legacy to live up to what the 2016 boys and the 2020 boys and it is a hard act to follow but the boys know what's on the line and we plan to keep that legacy going.
"Certainly, we want everybody when they speak about the Olympic sevens they speak about the Fiji sevens."
Kolinisau said he was happy to see how the players have picked up on fitness, meeting the standards set and displaying the Fijian flair and style they wanted to play with.
"We just set standards and we set values," he said, of the change seen in the team, especially after their performances against Uruguay and USA.
"We got the fitness right, on how we wanted to play our Fijian way, it's a high tempo and high risk, involves a lot of fitness to do that. We introduced that.
"The boys have adapted well and are starting to do that and we are getting back the flair that we are known for."
But the side will still need to take care of hosts France in their last pool game, the French obviously the favourites with the crowd, who cheered them on at a packed Stade de France.
France drew 12-all with the USA in their opening game, before they defeated Uruguay 19-12.
A win over Fiji can see them in the quarterfinals but a loss will not be helpful.
If the USA wins their last pool match and France loses to Fiji then that could be disastrous for the hosts.
Tuwai said they are wary of the French at home, especially after France had defeated the side earlier in the HSBC Sevens series this year.
Samoa’s cuts through the Australia defense on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 24 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee - KLC
Day One results
Other big results from Day One competition saw Ireland and New Zealand, both winning two games each in Pool A.
Terry Kennedy maintained his try-scoring record for Ireland, as they beat South Africa 10-5 in a tense affair to kick-off Pool A, before they piled on the points against Japan in a comfortable 40-5 win.
New Zealand claimed a 40-12 victory over Japan then beat South Africa 17-5 in a physical encounter.
Australia and Argentina won both their matches as well in Pool B, to set themselves up for the knockout phase.
A close 21-14 victory over Samoa kicked off the competition for the Australians, who also later pipped Kenya 12-7.
Argentina went two for two with a comfortable 31-12 win over Kenya and a good 28-12 victory over Samoa.
Samoa looks likely to miss the Top 8, losing both their games so far. They have Kenya in their last pool game.
Quarterfinals are set to be played on Friday (NZ Time) with the semifinals and gold medal final on Sunday.
Full results from Thursday morning's pool matches: New Zealand 17 South Africa 5, Ireland 40 Japan 5, Fiji 38 USA 12, France 19 Uruguay 12, Argentina 28 Samoa 12, Australia 21 Kenya 7, New Zealand 40 Japan 12, Ireland 10 South Africa 5, Fiji 40 Uruguay 12, France 12 USA 12, Argentina 31 Kenya 12, Australia 21 Samoa 14.
