Debut season a learning curve for Fiji 7s coach

Fiji sevens coach Gareth Baber says his first season in charge has been a learning curve, as he adapted to new surroundings and building a new culture with a team accustomed to success.

The Olympic champions relinquished their World Series crown, finishing third behind runaway leaders South Africa and England.

Baber missed the opening two legs of the campaign, after completing his contract with the Hong Kong Rugby Union, before linking up with the team in time for the final round of the Wellington Sevens in January.

The Welshman led Fiji to three finals and one Cup title in his first five events but they failed to make it past the quarter finals in the final rounds.

"We've had some great performances, probably most notably Hong Kong: semifinal (and) final there, where we started to play somewhere towards what I see as the way I want Fiji to play," he said.

"But also we've had some dark moments as well and found some tough situations, but as all coaches know you get a lot of growth from that as well.

"So much that you have to quite introspective, look at yourselves as group, strengths and weaknesses, the way you operate and work hard to put them right, so that's given me a lot of food for thought."

Gareth Baber said it was a balancing act trying to introduce new ideas and blood some new players but not wanting to change too much too quickly, for a group of players that had won back to back World Series titles and Olympic gold.

"A new coach coming in after such a period of success for Fiji...players getting used to me, me getting an understanding of Fiji rugby, the players that are in Fiji and some new players coming - trying to integrate them into the way I want to have my group," said Baber.

"I know it comes with pressure being in this position but equally, like Ben (Ryan) had in his first HSBC Series, you get mixed results some times," he said.

"For me, really, I know when pressure comes - and this is my own pressure - is to grab hold of those learning's as quickly as possible and ensure that the experience and training I've had previously, as a coach and as a player, that I put them together and make them as consistent and coherent as possible for the players so they can just get on and do what they've got to do."

Gareth Baber said the players will have the next month and a half to rest and recuperate before reassembling at the start of July.

 

Photo: Photosport Gareth Baber, (left), made his debut as Fiji coach at the 2017 Wellington Sevens