7s wonder: Tiny Samoa eye another big achievement

For Samoans,the weekend is a two-day carnival when they get out to play rugby.

For Samoans,the weekend is a two-day carnival when they get out to play rugby. Never mind the scheduling of this discipline at the Commonwealth Games its starts on Monday and ends on Tuesday Samoa coach Stephen Betham says weekends are whenever the event kicks off.

And with Samoan weightlifter Faavae Faauliuli winning the tiny Polynesian island-nations first Games gold in the 94kg category on Sunday,its going to be a long weekend.

The sport is very unique for us. Most of us treat rugby as a family occasion,and the islanders spirit means we play for one another and for the country top-most, says the Coach of the Year,who led Samoa to the IRB Sevens World Series earlier this year.

What they call rugbys island culture the sprited runs and the dogged fightbacks is also expected to take them through the next two days,after arriving in India not exactly upbeat and without two of their key players the influential Uale Mai,who has taken up a playing contract with a Spanish club,and captain Lolo Lui. We cant stop Mai,as he needs to financially support his families, he says of the winds of professionalism that are threatening to blow away Samoas quaint rugby culture.

Coach Betham is worried,and goes to the extent of saying that were the 16 participating to be ranked again,his highly-fancied team would end up 8th. Were coming off a tough time,and losing two top-class players is a shock to the system, the famed coach says,adding,Our chances of a big medal here are 50-50 and will depend on who can stand up and win over the weekend.

He,of course,means Tuesday when three-time gold medallists and unconquered New Zealand alongside 2006 runners-up England,South Africa and Australia take to the Delhi University stadium. New Zealand and Australia also have 15s ring-ins a smattering of Wallabies and All Blacks in their ranks.

Both our opponents and us have two hands and two feet,so we fancy our chances, he says,adding,The islanders are unique because we dont have professionals with us here. But their bolstering means it has raised CWG rugby sevens to a higher level,and us islanders will do our best to keep pace.

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He misses the Fijians at the CWG. They always provide a unique style,but the islanders will try doing big things with Papua New Guinea and Tonga also in the fray.

Betham says that though New Zealand may be tough to stop,nothing is impossible in the unpredictable world of sevens. But well look at our draw first, says the big man,whod want to finish Samoas big year of achievement with a CWG medal. Its been a real high for us,but itd be nice if we could sneak away that CWG medal.

Gordon Tietjens,the legendary New Zealand sevens coach,who has sculpted their unbeaten run at the Games,says: Samoa missing out on a player makes no difference to how well view them. They still remain strong opponents. Uael Mai is a very influential player but they have others who will step up. Islanders spirit,cannot be underestimated ever, he says. They play 7s every weekend.