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The Fiji Sevens team is heading in a new direction. That is, according to newly appointed head coach Joe Savou ahead of this weekend's Emirates Airline London Sevens.

Savou was appointed following the 2011 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide as Iliesa Tanivula's replacement and has already made five changes to the squad for the final two legs of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series.

Having last coached Fiji during the 2007/08 Series in a previous tenure, Savou admits he is already planning for next season.

"I am excited to be back in charge and looking forward to the last two legs, the remaining legs," said Savou, who was also Tanivula's assistant this season. 

"But we have a couple of new players in the team and we are looking to build for next year's Series and also even further ahead for the Rugby World Cup Sevens [in Russia] the year after and the Olympics [in Brazil] in 2016."

Rebuilding process

Fiji currently sit fifth in the World Series with 90 points having reached just one Cup final this season - at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas - and have failed to lift a trophy since the 2010 NZI Sevens.

But with one eye on the future Savou has drafted in four debutants - current Police Sevens captain Sakenasa Aca, Leone Nakarawa, Metuisela Talebula and Livai Ikanikoda - in the absence of big names including the season's second top try scorer (30) Seremaia Burotu and ex-captain Emosi Vucago.

"Some of the squad are just out of school last year but we are trying to rebuild with these new players and trying to rely less on the older players," added Savou.

"I think that is the way to move forward and from now on we will be focussing on that and trying to make a winning combination.

"I think the direction we want is to try and change the method of our game plan and getting more players familiar with the level on the Sevens World Series.

Ending on a high

"I think in the past few years we have been retaining the same players who have been playing for a while and we now have to move forward with some younger players."

For a country that has become synonymous with Sevens over the years, not least for winning a World Series title in 2006 and two RWC Sevens in 1997 and 2005, Savou admits he is desperate to get back to winning ways.

"We know the Series title is out of our reach, so right now it's all about ending our season on a high note, but obviously our main aim is to get back to winning titles and attempting to win the World Series again.

"We will do our best and see how far that takes us."

Fiji face pool matches with Portugal, Russia and South Africa on day one of the 2011 Emirates Airline London Sevens. Both Russia and Portugal reached the Cup quarter finals in Hong Kong, and South Africa sit two points above Fiji in the World Series.