Über das Forum » s have hired Alex Cora as their new bench

RIO DE JANEIRO -- When rugby sevens was added to the Olympic program for Rio seven years ago, there was an almost instant clamor for gold in Fiji.Finally, the people of the Pacific had a realistic chance of winning an Olympic medal. The pressure has intensified ever since, and so has the focus of the players.Fiji sevens and rugby -- its more than just a fanatical aspect of Fijian life, Fiji coach Ben Ryan said, Its in their DNA.Nobody flinched after Fiji beat New Zealand 12-7 in the quarterfinal on Wednesday, setting up a semifinal against Japan. The winner plays either South Africa or Great Britain for the gold.Ryan laid out the teams sole aim for Rio -- and its not a modest one.Weve got one aim and thats to win gold medal, not silver or bronze, he said. Were No. 1 in the world, were not trying to be arrogant, were saying this is what we want. Silver will be a disappointment as bronze and fourth place.The Fijians have long been the entertainers in sevens rugby, admired for their preference to run the ball from deep inside their own territory and waving the ball around with one hand looking for any chance to unload it with an unorthodox pass.Some critics have questioned the Fijian players ability to handle pressure, particularly at the Olympics where the entire population of the Pacific island nation will be watching or listening to every moment of every game.Ryan said its a mistake to think his team cant handle the extra attention that comes with being favorites at the Olympics.He pointed out that the Fijians have won the Hong Kong Sevens title -- the most prestigious on the calendar -- more than any other nation. Theyve won the last two world series. He said they deal with pressure daily, more than any rugby sevens player in any part of the world.Were in the papers on the front and back pages -- every night were in the 6 oclock news, he said. Everybodys a household name. The pressure is on them in our bubble in the Pacific every single day.Thats not the same with any other team in this tournament, so theyre used to it. Theyre not getting pressure theyre not used to.Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is in Rio for the games and, just like most Fijians, isnt averse to offering his opinion on matters to do with rugby.I did say to him `there are 12 teams here, theres only one with their head of state here, Ryan said, But hes a great supporter. I can talk to him about (tactics) and hell give me some rugby knowledge. Its great. Its the peoples team.Ryan was coaching England when the International Olympic Committee made the decision to bring rugby back on board for the first time since 1924, but changed the format to sevens -- the faster, abbreviated version of the traditional 15-a-side game.He moved to Fiji in 2013 and began honing the raw materials that already existed -- big, fast men with an innate instinct for the game.The biggest problem Ryan faced initially was the exodus of talented stars leaving with ever-greater frequency to make their livings abroad.So he started putting together the nucleus of a squad around his captain Osea Kolinisau and planned to bolster it sometimes with returning players such as Josua the Fijian bus Tuisova, who is a star in the French competition.Ryan describes Kolinisau as a role model and religious man who is the cultural architect of the team, and he has come to the fore at the most important moments in wins over Brazil, Argentina, the United States and New Zealand.Kolinisau brings a reverence to the game which Ryan said he admires, and which is a big bond for the team in a deeply religious country.Spiritual is a really good way to sum up how the team operates, he said. The singing in the mornings, the signing in the evenings. The prayers.Its like theres two religions in Fiji, he said. On Sunday theres church and no sport, but every other day theres rugby.Replica Soccer Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Fake Soccer Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not.The Houston Astros have hired Alex Cora as their new bench coach, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. The Astros later took to Twitter to announce the news.Cora, who had been serving as an analyst for ESPN, replaces Trey Hillman on an Astros staff led by manager A.J. Hinch.The story was first reported by Fox Sports.The 41-year-old Puerto Rico native, known more for his glove than his bat, last played for the Washington Nationals in 2011. He also was a member of the Los Angelees Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Texas Rangers throughout a 14-year career that saw him compile a .dddddddddddd243/.310/.338 slash line.Cora reportedly interviewed for several open manager positions over the past few seasons, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. ' ' '