Fiji braced for NZI Sevens title defence

Defending NZI Sevens champions Fiji will be looking to change history when they step on to the field at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on 4-5 February for the third leg of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series.

Despite reaching the Cup final on each occassion, Fiji have failed to successfully defend either of the titles they won in 2000 and 2006 after defeats to Australia and Samoa in 2001 and 2007 respectively.

In the tournament's 11 year history, New Zealand are the only side to have won back to-back Wellington Cups, winning three of their four titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, but the 2011 event offers Iliesa Tanivula and his side a third chance to achieve the same feat.

"It is just the same for us as for the other teams. We just have to try and go and do what we can do best in the pool games, try and win each as it comes, and hopefully progress to the finals," said head coach Tanivula when asked whether his team was feeling any additional pressure.

"To do that we have got to play smart, as a team, work on our mistakes and improve each game and hopefully lady luck will be on our side."

So far this season Fiji have gained 32 Series points after losing both of their Cup semi finals in the opening two legs of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series.

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24-21 and 26-19 defeats to Samoa and New Zealand respectively in Dubai and South Africa leaves them fourth in the current Series standings - 12 points behind leaders England - and Tanivula knows the importance of keeping in touch with those teams above them.

"We have just got to do better than New Zealand or England. We have to try and push through, try and get up as far as we can in the standings and be at our best on the day.

"We have been doing a lot of analysis of our last performances and there was a lot that came out, a lot positives but also a lot to work on.

"We have sat down with the boys trying to look at our performances individually and as a team. We pin-pointed our mistakes and what we can do to improve, and we are coming into this tournament hoping to get better."

Last year Fiji defeated South Sea Island rivals and eventual World Series champions Samoa 19-14 in a stunning showpiece final at a packed Westpac.

This year they face pool matches on day one against France, Canada and South Africa and, despite several changes to their squad, will again start as a crowd favourite and a key title contender.

"It is a good hunting ground for us, we have a lot of supporters here as it is close to home. I hope luck is on our side this weekend and we will get it on," added Tanivula.