The man regarded as one of the best wingers to have played rugby in the professional era has returned. Rupeni Caucaunibuca (affectionately known as “Caucau”) made a name for himself when he played sevens for Fiji back in 2001.
He was picked out of the blue into a Fijian team which lacked speed and was signed by NPC side Northland.
His impressive form in the NPC saw him gain selection for the Auckland Blues Super 12 team. The coach was so impressed with Caucau that he even benched All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko.
His ability to read the game and score tries out of nowhere made him a fan favourite.
After helping the Blues win the Super 12 title, he was included in the Fijian team for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
In his first game against France, Caucau scored one of the most memorable tries of the tournament, but after an incident with a French player, he was banned for two games. He returned for their final pool match against Scotland and again showed why he is regarded as the world’s best winger when he scored two brilliant tries.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t good enough as Fiji were bundled out.
He had the desire to play for the All Blacks, but was ineligible since being capped by Fiji. In 2004, he signed on for French Top 14 side, Agen.
In 2005, he appeared for Fiji against the New Zealand Maori and the All Blacks. He didn’t appear in any of Fiji’s World Cup qualifying matches citing excuses which resulted in him getting banned by the Fiji Rugby Union for twelve months.
After the ban expired in May 2006, he showed remorse and returned to Fiji. He scored a try against the Junior All Blacks and one of Fiji’s four tries against Italy in the mid-year tests. He failed to show up for his club Agen whom rang to find he was sick in hospital.
Caucau made his comeback a few months later looking fit and started in their 2006-07 Heineken Cup fixture against Edinburgh. Caucau was man of the match and also became the club’s top try scorer between 2005-2007. He was banned in April 2007 for three months after a drug test found traces of cannabis.
In December 2007, he returned to Agen scoring a hat-rick of tries against Toulon. He left Agen soon afterwards and came back to Fiji in which time he played for his local side, Tailevu. He scored five tries in just four games which saw him receive offers from the Leicester Tigers.
After failing to show for Leicester trials, he joined the Fiji sevens training squad but was dropped by the Fiji Rugby Union citing disciplinary issues.
He returned to Agen, who signed him on for the remainder of their season.
In June 2009, he announced he will no longer play for Fiji because it only brought him “bad luck”. However, in March 2010, he changed his decision after he returned home following the death of his mother. He chose to play for Fiji once again where he is often referred to as the prodigal son.
Caucau will start at inside centre for Fiji against the Wallabies on June 5th, the same day he will celebrate his 30th birthday. Caucau played outside center for Agen this season and scored thirteen tries, ending the year as the top try scorer.
He weighs 120kgs and may prove a handful for the Wallaby defenders once he gets going.
The Fijian team will be captained by Welsh based prop, Deacon Manu and will have the likes of Sireli Bobo, Timoci Nagusa, Waisea Luveniyali, Emosi Vucago and Nemani Nadolo.
The team will be without most of its key players that are based in Europe such as Netani Talei, Akapusi Qera, Sisa Koyamaibole, Marika Vakacegu, Nicky Little, Kameli Ratuvou etc. Seru Rabeni and Napolioni Nalaga have been chosen for the Barbarians so will not be available for Fiji. The team will have at least seven new caps including a host of local based players.
Caucau will be the key man for Fiji.
The fans that turn out in Canberra will get to see the man regarded as the best winger in the last decade.
Australian-born prop Campese Ma’afu will line up against his elder brother Salesi, with the likes of Sireli Bobo and Timoci Nagusa manning the wings. Former Australian Schoolboys winger Nemani Nadolo will also play off the bench for this epic one-off encounter.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
'You are just jealous Mr Saunders. He is the best winger/player ever to have played the game. No one cares whether he likes training or not. You will find in the history of sport that many sport geniuses seem to have the same discipline problem that has troubled Rupeni’s career. But there has never been a play who can do the things that Rupeni was able to do, especially when he was with the Blues and the Fiji team in the 2003 WC.' Spot on, AT. Jealousy has indeed motivated my comments. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I didn't mention training either, but thank you for the incorrect inference. Have many sporting geniuses had discipline problems? I'm struggling to think of more than a handful. Names that automatically spring to mind are Campese, Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Armstrong, Dettori, Schumacher etc... Don't recall many discipline problems there. Maybe there is a connection? Hmmm...? All things considered this is an opinion site, and if you think a handful of Super games and 3 (?) games v moderate opposition in a WC group stage is enough to label a player great then good for you. Personally, I require more than 20 games to label a player one of the greatest.
Brett McKay
Guest
Chris, this actually came up on another thread too - Fox Sports are at the very least streaming both gmaes live on foxsports.com.au, which is interesting. I don't know if they are showing them on TV, but would presume so (given they'd still be filming and calling the game for the live online stream)
chris
Guest
Ah sorry i meant to ask, does anyone know if the Australian Barbarians game on Tuesday in Perth will be televised. Ta.
Hombre
Roar Rookie
I'd agree with that Winston - if you were looking at an Aussie - I'd have an early Latham .... Cullen for sure and Wilson also - just class
Winston
Guest
I'd scratch Campo, and Habana form that list. Cullen for sure though.
Jerry
Guest
No one cares? I'd have thought the people of Fiji would care a bit - if he'd pulled finger and bothered to turn up for training prior to the 07 WC they might have beaten SA in that 1/4 for a start. I agree with Mr Saunders - Caucau is one of the most talented players ever to play the game, but that's not the same as being a great. He's not a great cause he's not played enough at the highest levels of the game to be called a great.
Apelu Tielu
Guest
You are just jealous Mr Saunders. He is the best winger/player ever to have played the game. No one cares whether he likes training or not. You will find in the history of sport that many sport geniuses seem to have the same discipline problem that has troubled Rupeni's career. But there has never been a play who can do the things that Rupeni was able to do, especially when he was with the Blues and the Fiji team in the 2003 WC.
stash
Roar Pro
Great with ball in hand - but never goes looking for work. Sometimes it seems he goes missing - maybe stopping off for some pork bones during phase play.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Nobody would doubt Caucaunibuca's ability, but all this talk of greatness is frankly OTT. He has fantastic talent but he is not a great of the game.
Chris
Guest
I will admit that that is probably the only other name to even cross my mind (as well as Umaga).
Jerry
Guest
Jeff Wilson played in the pro era - so did Campese technically, though it was only one season when he was past his best - but Wilson was still playing test rugby in 2001.
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
I believe he has signed for Bourgoin-Jailleau in the Top 14 competition ..I'm actually happy he did that cause he has been trying to make a mark in Super 14 rugby as well as the Wallabies team but if they don't want him then he really shouldn't bother trying to stay and take the best offer he gets :)
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
yeah steve, i said "one of" which means though he is one of the best wingers, he isn't the best..there were many wingers that came close but he was generally a notch above most of them and i said "professional era" which started in 1996 so it doesn't include the likes of john kirwan, david campese or jeff wilson etc..Caucau was definitely a lazy player but on the field he gave his best even without looking like he was trying..i really don't know any other player that could do that..... He may be around 110-115kg when he takes on the field but i assure you, he is still fast but nowadays he doesn't run around oppositions, he runs through them and yeah, he will play @ Outside centre (13) so giteau just got a lucky break..unfortunately can't say the same for Rob Horne..hehe
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
yeah, though local media in Fiji have said Caucau lost nearly 10kgs after returning to fiji after his season ended in Agen and he was on local news earlier, he does have that big family pack stomach..LOL but he is definitely looking fitter than when he came to fiji.
JK
Guest
I think you would be severely wrong Mr Saunders, besides if you were correct it would only add to the impression he made in one or two" 80 minute games". I'm not saying he was the best, but if you believe there is a winger or any outside back that would not wish to be able to do what he could do to defences, then they have the wrong number on their back.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Completely agree with you, SD. A handful of games at Super and test level does not a great player make. I severely doubt that the cheerleaders on this thread have even seen him play more than one or two full 80 minute games.
Jerry
Guest
Christian Cullen.
Jerry
Guest
He's not just over 105 though, he weighs nearly as much as Neemia Tialata!
Chris
Guest
He's always been "Pretty Chunky" hasn't he. For a guy less than 6ft tall weighing over 105kg it would be hard not to give that impression.
Sylvester
Guest
In the pics I saw, Caucau still looked pretty chunky. Is he still fast? He was dynamite for about two seasons with the Blues. While a prodigious talent, he hasn't played his best enough at the top to be classified a great in my book.