Gold Coast Sevens Pool B: FIJ, AUS, SCO, TON
We profile the four teams making up Pool B at the Gold Coast Sevens, round 1 of the HSBC Sevens World Series, with key stats on the team's World Series record and a lowdown on the man in charge.
FIJI
Played: 614
Won: 469 (76.38%)
Tournaments : 109
Debut : Series 1 - Dubai
Highest Score: 82-7 v Thailand, Hong Kong 2010
Final ranking last season: 2nd
Coach: Alifereti Dere
Ahead of the last Series, former national captain Alifereti Dere was appointed the new coach of Fiji Sevens. Dere’s coaching philosophy is based on fitness and 'old-fashioned' running Fijian rugby and the results flowed with three tournament titles. Timoci Wainiqolo has been appointed as Alifereti Dere's assistant this season, following the departure of Etuate Waqa, who has joined the Tongan Rugby Union as Rugby Sevens Director. Wainiqolo is expected to coach Fiji at the Gold Coast Sevens in October as Dere is under travel sanctions to Australia.
AUSTRALIA
Played: 590
Won: 369 (62.54%)
Tournaments : 109
Debut : Series 1 - Dubai
Highest Score: 73 - 0 v SRI LANKA, Commonwealth Games 2006
Final ranking last season: 6th
Coach: Michael O'Connor
A dual-code international in union and league for Australia, O'Connor is a true legend of the game. He played for the Wallabies in 13 tests from 1979 to 1982 and then the Kangaroos in 17 tests from 1985 to 1990. Since hanging up his boots, O'Connor has put his experience to good use, working in talent identification for the Australian Rugby Union and now bringing all of that expertise and knowledge into the Sevens spectrum. Since taking over as coach of Australia's Sevens team, O'Connor has injected a new purpose and dimension into their programme, guiding them to a first Cup title on the World Series since 2002 (in London in 2010) and also a Commonwealth Games silver medal. Also impressive winners of the Tokyo Sevens last season.
SCOTLAND
Played: 435
Won: 186 (42.75%)
Tournaments : 82
Debut : Series 1 - Dubai
Highest Score: 82 - 0 v SINGAPORE, Hong Kong 2006
Final ranking last season: 10th
Coach: Phil Greening
Scottish Rugby appointed Greening as its new head coach and programme manager for Scotland Sevens in the off season, taking over the job from Graham Shiel. A former England Sevens assistant coach and England and British and Irish Lions hooker, he joined on a three year contract. Between 2005 and 2007 Greening operated for England as assistant to Mike Friday, helping them to a highest ever second-place finish in the World Series and a silver medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. As well as his duties as head coach, Greening is also responsible for directing, planning and developing Scotland's overall Sevens programme. Has also coached the Sri Lankan national side.
TONGA
Played: 197
Won: 90 (45.68%)
Tournaments : 36
Debut : Series 1 - Dubai
Highest Score: 59 - 5 v NIUE, Commonwealth Games 2002
Final ranking last season: 16th
Coach: Etuate Waqa
Last season Waqa was assistant to Fiji head coach Alifereti Dere and together they enjoyed success, winning three of the nine rounds of the Series. His appointment by Tonga is seen as a shrewd move by a union going all out this season to gain promotion to core team status. As a player, Waqa represented Fiji in union and league and that all-round knowledge will be well-suited to getting the best out of Tonga’s undeniable raw talents.
