'Cardio' Nadolo tweet sums up watching Fiji in men's sevens action

Fiji winger Namani Nadolo has perfectly summed up in a single tweet what watching his country play men’s sevens rugby is like. The Fijians are currently in England participating at the Commonwealth Games where they were paired against fierce rivals New Zealand in the semi-finals on Sunday. 

So tense was the last-four fixture that Fiji needed an extra time try from skipper Waisea Nacuqu - who ran 75 metres - to keep alive their gold medal bid in a match in which they came from 0-14 down to eventually dramatically win 19-14. 

Adding to the tension was the brandishing of three yellow cards. Fiji lost Kaminieli Rasaku to the first-half sin bin before New Zealand had Leroy Carter (late tackle) and Akuila Rokolisoa (deliberate knockdown) binned late in the second, creating the crucial numerical imbalance that allowed the seven-man Fijians to pick off the five-man Kiwis with the game’s opening extra time play.  

An intercept try from Filipe Sauturaga just before half-time - New Zealand were caught on the attack instead of kicking the ball dead for the break - kick-started the Fiji comeback. The match was levelled when Sevuloni Mocenacagi added another converted score midway through the second period of the fierce battle that left the watching Nadolo on edge. 

“Thank you, Lord, that sevens rugby only goes for 14 minutes. Supporting Fiji in sevens is like doing a high-tempo cardio session. Heart rate through the roof for 14 minutes,” tweeted the veteran back who is currently going through his pre-season at Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester ahead of the new season which starts next month away to Exeter.  

Nadolo will now brace himself for some further anxious viewing as Fiji will contest the Commonwealth final on Sunday night local time against South Africa, who defeated Australia 24-12 in the other men’s semi-final in Coventry.