The National 7s team will meet the high flying Springboks 7s in the first quarterfinal at 9 tonight after Fiji lost their final pool game to World Champions Wales this morning 19-14.
Fiji's tries were scored by Lepani Botia and Jasa Veremalua.
After the final round of pool games, seven teams were confirmed quarter finalist and Fiji was just lucky enough to book the final eighth spot ahead of Samoa and Canada because of points difference.
If Scotland and South Africa drew in their final pool match this morning then Fiji would have been eliminated from the Cup competition.
Coach Alifereti Dere is confident that the team can bounce back despite going down to Wales.
Dere said his major concern is that the players let Wales control the game.
Speaking to Fijivillage from Moscow, Dere added that he rotated the players to gauge their performances in the pool stages before naming his best lineup for the quarterfinal.
Fiji led 7-5 at halftime before giving the game away in the second half with Metuisela Talebula copping a yellow card.
Fiji's quarterfinal opponent, South Africa will really come out firing as they have won three tournaments in this year's series and talk in camp is they are out to win the Cup for Nelson Mandela who is currently in hospital.
The South African Sevens rugby team held an emotional capping ceremony on Friday where Oregan Hoskins, the president of the South African Rugby Football Union asked Captain Kyle Brown and his team to ‘keep Madiba in their hearts’ as they look to win the Melrose Cup for the first time.
In an emotional message, Hoskins said as rugby people they owe former President Mandela so much and it would be very fitting if South Africa can win this title with the Springbok emblem on their jerseys, the badge of honour former president Mandela was so keen to protect.
He said everyone knows Mandela is not well, so a good performance will be a fine way to show support to his legacy as the father of the nation and a custodian of SA rugby.
In the Cup quarterfinals Fiji will play South Africa at 9pm, New Zealand will face Wales at 9.22pm, England will then meet Australia at 9.44pm before France play Kenya at 10.06pm.
The experienced Samoan side will not feature in the Cup quarterfinals after losing to Kenya.
Looking at some results this morning, Kenya beat Samoa 17 12, New Zealand won 26-19 over USA, England defeated Argentina 14-12, Australia drew 17-all with France and South Africa hammered Scotland 41-0.
Meanwhile the Fijiana 7s team lost to USA 31-5 and Brazil 17-14 but they drew 14-all with Spain in their first pool match.
The Fijiana team will also meet South Africa but in the Bowl quarterfinals at 8.06 tonight.
Story by: Akuila Cama and Aliki Bia
