Fiji: We're No. 1 in rugby 7s because it's in our genes

They won their second HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series last season and are favourites to make it back-to-back triumphs.

After seven legs of this season's competition, the Fiji Sevens side lead the standings on 128 points, five ahead of second-placed New Zealand with three stops remaining, including Singapore this weekend.

Come the Rio Olympics in August - Sevens rugby makes its debut at the Games this year - Fiji are also the frontrunners for the gold medal.

According to coach Ben Ryan, the Islanders are so good because the sport runs in their blood.

"The game suits us genetically; our athletes find this type of short format of the game perfect," Ryan told The New Paper on the sidelines of a meet-and-greet event at Changi Airport Terminal 3 yesterday.

"It's our national sport, so we have a very strong domestic set-up in Fiji where we have tournaments every weekend."

Fiji won the Hong Kong Sevens last Sunday after defeating fierce rivals New Zealand 21-7 in the final.

The Singapore series will be held at the National Stadium and, after their gruelling campaign in Hong Kong, Ryan revealed that he made five changes to his squad.

"Hong Kong drains you physically and mentally, from the attention around it and the pressure the boys face from back home," he said.

"We want to have an intensity of performance in Singapore that matches Hong Kong - that's why we have to change the players to give a chance to some of our other squad members."

NO FEAR

The Englishman has no fear about rotating his players, especially when everyone is vying for a place in the Olympic squad.

"They have to back up every other tournament, so we will share the workload," he said.

"For the new guys who are playing this weekend, they're desperate to do well so they can just nudge me into thinking that they're more of an option to take to Brazil."

Despite the confidence in his team, Ryan dismissed suggestions that his side are top picks to lift the Cup on Sunday, noting that their rivals have had more preparation time.

"Teams like South Africa, America, Australia and England, who didn't make the final, saved energy and they haven't had that many injuries," he pointed out.

"So, you've got to look at a team like South Africa, who with one injury change and having played only in the semi-finals, as favourites."

Fiji have also been drawn in a "tough" group that features 2005/06 champions Samoa, three-time runners-up England and Portugal.

But forward Semi Kunatani, who was named Player of the Final in Hong Kong, is not worried.

"New Zealand, England and South Africa are the top teams in the world right now, but we're putting up a game plan which can suit us when we play against them," he told TNP.

"We have confidence in the boys and we can play together as a group."

Perhaps the most confident of them all is coach Ryan, who reiterated that his side are "favourites for the gold" at the Olympics.

"If somebody comes and smashes the next three tournaments, and beats us to win the World Series, then that might change things," he said.

"But, right here and right now, we're No. 1."

“Right here and right now, we’re No. 1.”

— Fiji coach Ben Ryan (above), on his side