12 Dec 2015

Sport: Fiji 7's team urged to ramp up respect in Cape Town

6:17 am on 12 December 2015

Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan has urged his players to show the proper respect to their opponents at this weekend's Cape Town Sevens.

Fiji won last week's opening World Series leg in Dubai to begin their title defence in the perfect manner but Ryan says they failed to show New Zealand enough respect following their semi final victory.

Fiji celebrate winning the 2015 Dubai Sevens.

Fiji celebrate winning the 2015 Dubai Sevens. Photo: World Rugby

He says this Fiji squad can get carried away sometimes and need to have perspective.

Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan.

Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The team's preparations for this weekend was hampered by a dose of food poisoning and Ben Ryan is expecting a difficult ride in their pool.

"Russia are a new team to the series this year, after beign absent as a core team, and had some good games last weekend. Scotland are an excellent side, well-coached, very good footballers and are going to be a very tough test I think and Argentina are only going to get better: six new caps in Dubai, they will have learnt a lot about how they played against us and I think we're going to have a tough game agains them. I hope the boys show the same amount of respect I'm going to showing these teams in the analysis and thought that will go into our pool games".

Ben Ryan says he plans to rotate his squad to ensure they remain fresh and has tipped hosts South Africa as tournament favourites.