Exposure part of plan: Bari

Fiji Times - Saturday, May 24, 2008 8:52 AM

FORMER Fiji 7s selector Manasa Bari says the ground work for player selection to the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai has been partly done with the inclusion of fresh blood in the 2007-2008 IRB Sevens World Series.

According to Bari, the selectors included new players in the Fiji team to give them overseas exposure.

He said now that these players have participated on the international scene, the selectors and the coaches have a good idea of which players are capable of making the Fiji side for the SRWC.

"The coach has given three more players the opportunity to showcase their talents in the final leg," Bari said.

"These players Seremaia Burotu, Sailosi Rabonaqica and Vereimi Vilitati impressed the selectors. They add to the number of new players who have represented Fiji in this series."

Dubbed as the "Black Pearl" Bari was a try scoring machine during his era in the sport.

The Roosters coach played a pivotal role in selecting players together with Jope Tuikabe for the national 7s team before relinquishing the post to concentrate in the Colonial Cup.

Bari said this time the Fiji team had a good chance of turning around its misfortunes in the previous tournaments.

He said the fans should back the players as they try and get Fiji's lost sevens image back on track.

Fiji has not won a tournament kin the IRB SWS under the guidance of Josateki Savou. Fiji's last victory was in Adelaide in April last year when the team was coached by Waisale Serevi