Ben Ryan on laying Hong Kong’s ghosts to rest

The second part of Ben Ryan’s fascinating account of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2014-15 continues with South Africa in the box seat following back-to-back wins in Dubai and Port Elizabeth and a first-ever win for Fiji’s coach in Hong Kong.

It is so tough to win back-to-back events and huge kudos to the Blitzbokke that they did it. It meant they took the box seat in the series that they held all the way to Glasgow and those victories almost got them over the line. Tries by the impressive quartet of Afrika, Senatla, Smith and Snyman gave them a 26-17 win over New Zealand in the final with Australia taking third, beating Argentina 34-19. Scotland was also beginning to motor and playing some lovely football, while USA were starting to make waves.

Back to the Cake Tin and a very different atmosphere as the stadium lacked the atmosphere of previous years. The Fijian support was growing tournament to tournament inside the stadiums and there was another vocal presence in Wellington. On the field, New Zealand stepped up. They beat England in the pool stage and again in the final with Rieko Ioane’s brace a highlight of the final game. For England, this result and the Tokyo tournament proved to be decisive in their drive for the treasured fourth place. For Fiji, Wellington and Port Elizabeth was a blow to our series title ambitions. Two consecutive Cup quarter-final exits were scant return for a team desperate to be higher up the standings. However, after our extra-time defeat to England, the Osea Kolinisau led side began to purr.

BIGGER AND BETTER

LAS VEGAS was next and it’s a tournament that’s been getting better and better. It has taken the US a bit of time to get to grips with the event but they are smashing it now. The crowd is getting bigger and bigger and the atmosphere was great this year. For the home nation, it also gave them a significant result in their draw with South Africa in the pool. The Blitzbokke were to gain revenge in the third place play-off but it showed the advances being made.

It wouldn’t be until the final legs that the Americans would manage to hit Cup knock-out stages in consecutive weeks, to hint there is still much progress to be made as a consistent threat, but more teams at the top table is a good thing full stop. The other telling moments over the weekend belonged to Fiji. New Zealand were beaten in a tight game in pool play and a scorching start in the semi-final against South Africa with Semi Kunatani giving a virtuoso display, pitted Fiji versus the All Blacks Sevens again.

The Kiwis were down on numbers through injuries and the final was a one-sided one. Kunatani went over for a brace, as did Jerry Tuwai (pictured top) – World Sevens Rookie of the Year – with two typically classy and mesmerising efforts. The final score was 35-19 with a couple of late New Zealand tries after we had led 28-0 at one stage.

FOUR TO GO

The standings after Vegas gave South Africa a five-point lead over New Zealand and seven over Fiji. Four tournaments remained and any clashes now between the three sides could lead to big points swings. For Fiji, we would end up playing the two a collective six times and gain five wins. It proved to be the difference.

Hong Kong. On a personal note it has been a tournament of close but no cigar. Plenty of semi-finals and a final but failed to win the main event. I was getting to the point of thinking I might have to purchase a few of the ‘Ba Gua’ mirrors that are used to deflect evil spirits in Hong Kong from the ladies market in Mong Kok! Perhaps it was going to be one of those things. 2014 was the first time I was there with Fiji and I saw the passion the Fijian people had towards the event. Crazy.

It was also a tournament I learnt a lot from. We had constant distractions from those that meant well but came to knock on the players’ doors in the middle of the night to share a prayer or wish them well. By the time we got to the semi-finals in 2014, we were running on vapours. This year, it wouldn’t repeat. We kept guard, kept out distractions and gave the boys an even chance to do their thing.

KEEPING THE FAITH

I wonder whether other coaches ever get similar feelings but from the captains’ run on the Thursday, I was certain we would deliver. In sevens other things can trip you up and believe me, they can come from any and everywhere. Yet, there was a calmness that covered the entire squad like a blanket. A calmness that you get just before a storm, only we were to control this particular weather pattern.

Playing Pacific rivals Samoa first really focused the boys and we went on to record a terrific 38-12 win. Six different try-scorers showed we were flowing and in harmony. We had a tough game against England in the quarter-final and we needed it. Our defence was tested, but even though the scoreline was tight, winning 14-12, we all felt in control. Another rocket of a start against South Africa put us in the final to face New Zealand. Samoa would regroup after their loss to us and take the Kiwis to the wire in the other semi-final, but in the 40th anniversary tournament, it was fitting the two behemoths of the modern game would be facing each other again.

The anthems rang out, the players flew onto the ball and into their opposition and Fiji went into a 21-0 lead. Save Rawaca was having a brilliant debut season and stamped his mark on the final with a double. When New Zealand struck back, Fiji counter punched again and kept the lead a healthy one. 33-19 as the whistle blew; two consecutive tournament wins for Viti and the trio of teams at the top were a hair’s breadth apart going to Tokyo.

NEXT WEEK

– How the World Rugby Sevens Series title was won

(Source: http://www.worldrugby.org)