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Fiji’s quarter-final loss at the Sevens World Cup in Dubai has sparked a deluge of criticism at home, aimed particularly at the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU). Media reports have been quick to report threats against FRU members and vandalism following the side’s Dubai exit.

While the nation is trying to come to terms with what was seen as a poor showing in Dubai, national sevens coach, Iliesa Tanivula publicly accepted responsibility for the team's loss.

Yet the majority of calls have been for a change within the FRU's top brass especially the sevens selection panel. The FRU hierarchy have often been put under pressure from media and the people of Fiji, mostly stemming from the desire for Waisale Serevi to return to the Fijian Sevens fold once again.

But differences between the FRU and Serevi remain intact as FRU board chairman Keni Dakuidreketi pointed out in a media report, "Serevi's expertise is not needed either as player or official".

While Serevi had declared his interest to help the sevens team prior to the World Cup, national coaching director and seven's selector Ilivasi Tabua was reported to have said he would not be considered because of his age.

Tabua said there was a standard criteria for the selection of players but he stressed medical evidence against a player in his late 30's and early 40's.

"Have you ever seen anybody in that age-group play in any other rugby team? I don't see it (age) as an obstacle but it's been medically proven that when age reaches a certain place, the recovery rate is much slower," he said.

"I'm not saying we categorise for not picking them but we're in a professional team. Come to the ages 30, 31 and 33, you can hardly get a renewable contract.

"You're more of a liability than an asset. Age has never been an issue with us. If you look around in any team, you don't see anybody in their 40's running around.

"They just don't match up with what is in the modern day. I mean if you're indicating the person you're thinking of, it's obvious you have to look at changes in the game."

Dwelling on the possibility of Serevi's return to the seven's scene despite his age, Tabua said the issue had already been dealt with by the FRU board. He said the public should learn to distinguish the underlying issue whether they make decisions on sentimental value but on logical terms.

"Rugby is a physical game, a contest, it demands a lot. There's a certain amount of what you do when you hit a certain age. There's wear and tear and your body's gone through so much."

Serevi himself has questioned the selection policy in Dubai and has been quick to point out changes in the team that should be implemented.

“We should have won looking at the calibre of players that we have,” he added speaking in a ‘maiTV’ last weekend.

“The players were used in wrong positions like Napolioni Nalaga. He is a very good winger, huge but he was used inside when he should be playing out wide.

“Goneva is stiff when 7s needs flexible players. I think Peni Rokodiva was the best halfback because he had been consistent and playing in that position in the IRB 7s Series. Daunivucu is good at playmaker, Delasau could only sidestep and is good outwide.”

“I knew that Fiji was going to lose from the first ball. The players were wrongly positioned, and when Kenya kept the ball for two minutes it showed that Fiji was not eager to play. There was also no style of play shown from the start of the tournament and it questions whether the coach has a game plan in mind especially at oppositions at hand,” Serevi added.

Looking ahead to Hong Kong and Adelaide, Tanivula is convinced that he has the right game plan and has called for the players to implement it working together. His biggest challenge is to find a winning combination before they depart for the next two legs of the IRB 7s series in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

“The main focus right now is to find the combination among these players and the positive thing about this build-up is that most of these players have been playing together as a team for quite some time.”

With ten days to the start of the Hong Kong 7s, Tanivula says it’s going to be another challenging campaign as teams fight for the 30 points up for grabs at So Kon Po stadium.

“We still have a chance to come back to the top of the table,” he said.

“We’re preparing well, we have some very young and capable players, we just have to be focused and play our cards right. It’s not too late.”