Every now and then I write an article regarding the growth – but mainly the demise – of Fiji rugby.
Recently I touched on issues relating to the ‘poaching’ of Pacific Island players by Tier 1 teams. Before that I wrote an article about the ‘size’ of some of our national players mainly focusing on the biggest (by stature and class) of them all, Nemani Nadolo.
Fiji showed in their first Test against England that they may not be the very best when it comes to playing the 80-minute game, but they have the ability to take their opposition head on and do everything possible to make sure that they don’t go down trying. After Japan’s shocking win over South Africa, Fiji and other tier 2 teams like Samoa, Tonga and even USA are now trying to mimic their achievement.
If Japan, a team that has not beaten any team at the Rugby World Cup for 24 years could take out the two time Rugby World Cup champions South Africa in pool play, why couldn’t they do the same in their pools?
Fiji, who gave the English side a run for their money until they completely fell apart around the 70-minute mark, looked good enough to create the first upset. However, due to a couple of reasons including the failure of the coach to send in the subs earlier and tiring players, Fiji fell apart. They were beaten convincingly in the end by England who from start to finish were not looking like a team capable of winning the Rugby World Cup.
Fiji, who have been tagged the ‘Kingmakers’ by commentators may very well decide who moves on to the quarters. With four of the top ten teams in the world named in the same pool, two are unlikely to progress past the pool stages and most fans think those team may very well be Fiji and Wales.
Fiji’s next hurdle is Australia, a team which on one week can be so good that they can topple the All Blacks, but be so bad the following week that it makes you wonder if their win against the mighty All Blacks was a dream.
Australia have named a formidable side to take on Fiji. It is a side most pundits have dubbed as their first choice team bar two or three players. This will be their first game at the Rugby World Cup and its one game a top tier team cannot afford to lose regardless of who they are playing.
Just ask South Africa.
The front row of the Wallabies has the likes of Scott Sio, Stephen Moore and Sekope Kepu. Kepu has been a consistent performer for the Wallabies over the last two years and has shown time and time again that he is the real deal. He would be up against Fiji’s loose-head, Campese Ma’afu, a player who has cost Fiji more penalties than any other player in history and yet continues to get picked for reasons unknown.
On the other side, Sio will go up against Manasa Saulo, a young tight head prop who some have already dubbed as the best tight head to play for fiji since Bill Cavubati. He was named in the World XV side three weeks ago and stood his ground against England where he played remarkably well and was instrumental in destroying the English scrum. Moore is one of my favourite players of all time and I feel he may have the edge over Fiji’s hooker, Talemaitoga Tuapati, who has ITM Cup experience playing for Southland.
In the locks division the Wallabies will be fielding two two-metre tall locks, both of whom have been consistently good at Super Rugby level. Fiji will be fielding the younger brother of the famous prop mentioned above, Bill Cavubati (who is actually 18 years younger than his brother) as well as Leone Nakarawa, a player who has dominated the Pro12 competition in the Northern Hemisphere. He has been voted as the Best Pro12 player of the last season.
On paper, the Wallabies locks are the efficient ones but in reality, the Fijian locks have more class and their match-up during the lineouts will be great to see.
On the flanks, Australia have named two of the best openside flankers around. Both have the ability to change the game on their own. Michael Hooper has the speed and the strength to play as an outside back whereas Dave Pocock has the smarts and the skills to target players and to recover the ball.
They have also named a ranging Scott Fardy at blindside, a player that has always reminded me of a young Owen Finegan. Fiji have lost their most consistent blindside flanker, Domoniko Waqaniburotu to a one-week suspension after his ‘tip-tackle’ on England winger Jonny May, but the have brought in the very experienced Netani Talei.
Joining him is Peceli Yato at blindside, a young player who has managed to achieve a lot more than anyone could hope for over the last three years. He is one player that was expected to shine for Fiji during the PNC in July but was not given much game time . He gets his second start and though he is one of the least experienced players in the team. If you combined Jerome Kaino with Victor Vito, you get Yato.
He will pair Akapusi Qera, a player who was instrumental in beating Wales at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was also once dubbed the best open side flanker in the Aviva Premiership.
At halves the very experienced Will Genia will partner the young but very talented Bernard Foley. Genia is the incumbent and though many have tried, Genia has maintained that 9 jersey for quite a while but he will be up against a guy who has mesmerised fans not only on the 7s field but also at 15s level in Niko Matawalu.
While Genia is one of those cliched ‘safe’ scrumhalves who prefers to do the basics, Niko on the other hand is one of those rare ones who has the ability to win the game on their own.
He has won multiple awards with Glasgow for his sheer ability to read the game and risk everything as he showed against England.
If there is one player the Wallabies need to contain apart from that giant tank I will be talking about later, its him.
On the wings, Australia have named Adam Ashley-Cooper, a player I cherish and probably one of the most underrated players ever.
They have also named Rob Horne who is one of the best defending wingers around. Fiji on the other hand have named two giant wingers (both over 6’5 and over 100kgs).
Nemani Nadolo – there isn’t much I can say about him which people already don’t know. He is a complete winger and an accomplished goal kicker and its the latter which the Crusaders have failed to utilise him.
The other fijian winger, who also came through the 7s circuit in fact played in Melbourne club rugby. He racked 40 tries but was never able to make it in Super Rugby and was recently part of the 2014 Top14-winning side Stade Francais. An accomplished centre, expect him to attack from the mid field.
At centre, the return of Matt Giteau is a blessing. Ironically, the last time Fiji played Australia back in 2010, Giteau was there. He will partner Tevita Kuridrani, a player who shares his genes with Nadolo.
They met once at Super Rugby level but this is a different ball game. Kuridrani hasn’t been at his very best for the last few games but here’s hoping he is at his very best. Fiji have named Leicester wing/centre, Vereniki Goneva and Gabiriele Lovobalavu, a man who is playing in his third Rugby World Cup. Goneva posses a step which can bamboozle opposition and speed which can get him to the try line and a very staunch defender and Lovobalavu is somewhat similar except he prefers to do more territorial kicking than defending.
At fullback, it is a David and Goliath battle. Israel Folau is quite probably the best fullback in world rugby right now. This man could do anything he wants. Folau is to Australia what Nadolo is to Fiji, their main strike weapon.
If Folau gets ball in hand, he is one player that can single handedly win the game for Australia. Strong defender, good in the air and deceptively fast.
Metuisela Talebula on the other hand is a player whose one-on-one tackle is quite deadly. With ball in hand he is dangerous as well, whether running or as a goal kicker.
Australia has named a ridiculously good bench. I fear if Cheika starts sending these players in early, it could win them the game within the first 60 minutes.
Fiji’s bench isn’t really that strong but reserve prop Peni Ravai is quite special and if brought in earlier could change Fiji’s dimension upfront.
I’m a big Fiji rugby fan, quite possibly the biggest ever and also their biggest critic. From what I have seen over the last 18 months since John McKee became coach, Fiji will definitely lose this game.
It will mainly be due to the coach sending in the subs a bit too late, especially in the front row where we may succumb to rolling mauls and 5 metre scrums on our 22. My heart say Fiji can win this, but my brain, which is rarely wrong, says Australia should win this convincingly.
Australia by 22.
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