The Fiji women's sevens team are looking to bounce back from a frustrating time in Atlanta at this weekend's World Series event in Canada.
The Fijiana struggled at the latest Women's Sevens World Series event in Atlanta. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee @ KLC Fotos
The Fijiana won their opening pool match against Colombia last weekend before heavy defeats by England, Australia, Canada, USA and France.
Results did not go their way but, despite some lopsided scorelines there were some positives according to Fiji Rugby's Director of Women's Sevens, Chris Cracknell.
"The girls, all despite the results, did play very well last weekend. I was very impressed with their defensive performance - especially we've taken a step forward from where we were in Dubai (last year)."
"I think our defence has definitely come on leaps and bounds since then but obviously the results didn't go in our favour and we're looking to improve on our scoring prowess and to really finish off the attacks we create to make sure we get across the white-wash," he said.
Chris Cracknell said New Zealand and USA are both riding high at the moment and will be tough pool opponents.
"New Zealand obviously reached the final last weekend so they're on the crest of a wave at the moment and USA showed some improvement last weekend as well so I think their programmes are definitely further more advanced than our programme is and that generally comes from being together for longer and having the support that they've had."
"Our girls are looking forward to those two challenges in particular and Spain - much like ourselves really have had a bit of an indifferent time of it - they will definitely bring a different challenge in the sense that they are scrapping for everything," he said.
Fiji are currently eighth in the overall series standings, in between two of their pool opponents: USA and Spain.
Meanwhile the Fiji and Samoa men's teams are in the same pool at this weekend's Singapore Sevens.
The Singapore leg was last played a decade ago and replaces the Tokyo round in the World Series calendar.
The Pacific rivals will go head to head just after midday local time, before taking on Portugal and England.
