Hong Kong Sevens: Fiji looking to return of fans to add that little bit extra
- Fijian coach calls on the crowd to help lift islanders to title as Olympic qualification goes down to the wire
- ‘It’s quite special when you see all that Fiji blue here in Hong Kong. I’m sure they’ll be creeping out of the woodwork,’ Gollings says
Fiji came agonisingly close to winning their sixth straight Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens last November, denied at the death by a last-ditch Australian try as they lost 20-17.
Maybe it was the absence of their “extra player” – more commonly known as the travelling masses who come to Hong Kong each year as though on pilgrimage and, more often than not, simply will their heroes to victory.
Lingering pandemic restrictions made their numbers few back then but right now Fiji have returned and a decent contingent of their fans have, too. Coach Ben Gollings is hoping they’ll make all the difference as he sets his side up for an opening Pool A clash against Samoa looming on Friday at 3.28pm.
“Hopefully this time around when things are right open the crowd does come out because it’s quite special when you see all that Fiji blue here in Hong Kong,” Gollings said.
“I’m sure they’ll creep out of the woodwork as we get closer to game time. November was a good taste for the players. We had quite a few new ones so they got to experience it, but now they’ll get to see it in full flow.
