The Manu Samoa Sevens team is looking to use criticisms of their recent performances as added motivation to rebound in Wellington, starting tomorrow.
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The Manu Sevens were Cup finalists in the opening leg on the Gold Coast but slipped to seventh in the World Series standings after missing the quarter finals in both Dubai and Port Elizabeth.
Samoa has rung the changes for the Wellington tournament, with three players selected from New Zealand and the likes of Tom Iosefo, Afa Aioni and Fautua Otto unavailable with injury.
Last week, S.R.U Chair and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, called on the team to stop the excuses and start winning.
Assistant Coach Galumalemana Rudy Moors says the team will use such comments as fuel.
"Those criticisms are good motivation for our boys. We learn from our own mistakes and the boys know, thinking about what happened to them, that's all the life of rugby,” he is quoted as saying by RNZI.
“Everyone wants to win, no-one wants to lose - all of those criticisms we put aside and we have to move on and keep going."
Galumalemana says the team feels well prepared for this weekend and believe they can compete for the Cup title.
The only set back for the team is that the team has not been able to train with Chiefs utility back Tim Nanai-Williams until today.
The 25-year-old took part in last month's Dubai and Port Elizabeth legs of the World Series, and will become eligible for the full Manu Samoa team if he plays in two more tournaments.
The rest of the Samoa Sevens team arrived in Wellington at the weekend but Team Manager Galumalemana says Nanai-Williams has told him that the Chiefs won't release him until today. "He said his Coach will release him on Thursday,” he said.
“[With] the eligibility rules we need to play him in sevens before he goes to the fifteens. We would really like him to come [early] - that's why I've been calling him both yesterday and on Sunday. We need him back here but it's really hard for him to come because his Coach is holding him back until Thursday morning."
Samoa has slipped to seventh in the World Series after missing the playoffs in the last two legs and are in the same pool as Argentina, Scotland and Kenya in Wellington.
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