Murphy asks for calm

Fiji Times - Monday, April 07, 2008 7:45 AM

THE Fiji rugby public and critics should not jump the gun and start dismissing our chances of retaining our Sevens Rugby World Cup title in Dubai in March next year.

These were the comments made by Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit manager Peter Murphy.

The shortened code which falls under the HPU hasn't been performing up to expectations and already most have argued Fiji will not be able to win the 2009 World Cup.

Calls have been made to sack coach Josateki Savou and to bring back Waisale Serevi as the mentor, if Fiji was to stand a chance of retaining the Melrose Cup.

Fiji has won the World Cup twice.

The first was in 1997 and the most recent victory came in 2005.

"There is a lot of rebuilding going on and while we understand the results are not positive in the series, it will be different next year," Murphy told Times Sport from Adelaide yesterday.

"The plan for the World Cup is already in place and there is on going work being undertaken to ensure a succesful defence of the Melrose Cup."

He pointed out that New Zealand had undergone the same situation a couple of seasons back and so was England which lost all its pool games in Adelaide at the weekend.

"There is not all doom and gloom and while positive criticisms help, there is no need to draw up conclusions," he said.

Murphy along with FRU chairman Keni Dakuidreketi were in Adelaide yesterday to lend support to the team.

Meanwhile, Murphy has been impressed with Fijian referee James Bolabiu who has been taking giant strides on the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.

Last weekend he became the first ever Pacific referee to control the final at Hong Kong.

"I salute James and he has done a fantastic job and put Fiji on the map," Murphy said.