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There was a time when even the biggest team in rugby feared the Flying Fijians. Their backline were not only lethal in attack but also aggressive in defence. The team which once held its own against bigger team now seems to have completely lost their love for the game.
Fiji rugby was known for their unpredictability, flamboyancy, flair and speed in both the backline and forward pack.
What has happened to the Flying Fijians? In my opinion, the coaching and managerial staff have had much to do with the fall away in form.
The Fiji Rugby Union selected a new coach after dismissing former coach Ilivasi Tabua, who took the team to the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter finals.
The new coach, Sam Domoni, had no coaching international experience. Domoni was from Australia where his highest level as a coach was as an assistant coach to Manly Rugby club which he held for just one year.
The over two metre tall former lock had also played six tests for Fiji has a winning ratio of just 33%, prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup (15 tests, 5 wins, 1 draw).
Fiji was ranked ninth in the world prior to his selection in March 2010. Since his selection, Fiji has gone down seven places in world rankings and are now currently ranked 16th in the world with a chance to fall even further if they lose to Wales this weekend.
A country which prided themselves in rugby, known for producing some of the most fastest, mercurial and flamboyant players as well as being regarded as the strongest Tier 2 nation in world rugby has had the worst run the last 18 months.
The national side has lost to all Tier 1 teams including Australia, New Zealand, France, and even the lower ranked Italy. The side was humiliated twice by Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Punjas Rugby series (two home and away tests played between Fiji and Tonga) as well as losing to Japan and Samoa as well.
Fiji no longer played the free flowing and broken play rugby they were famous for and even with some of the star players in the mix, Fiji still couldn’t win a single test which mattered.
Even at the Rugby World Cup, the over-hyped match between Fiji and Samoa was also a disappointment for rugby fans as it was very much one way from start to finish. It drew one of the biggest crowd at the 2011 Rugby World cup with well over 60,0000 in attendance.
The team selection for the RWC raised eyebrows. Some of the bigger names in Fiji rugby like center Seru Rabeni, England based, Sireli Naqelevuki prop, Graham Dewes and lock Ifereimi Rawaqa were completely dropped from the Fiji team, without a valid reason from the coach or the coaching staff and management.
A few other overseas based players like Rupeni Caucau, Sireli Bobo, Vilimoni Delasau, Josh Matavesi and Jone Qovu pulled out prior to the Pacific Nations Cup citing family commitments though it was very obvious why they pulled out.
Some selections didn’t make any sense such as the dropping of the very experienced prop, Graham Dewes whose try in the 2007 Rugby World Cup against Wales allowed Fiji to progress to the Quarter Finals, veteran lock Ifereimi Rawaqa who had been one of the pillars of Fiji Rugby forward pack for the last eight seasons and more importantly, centre Seru Rabeni, a player whose defensive and attacking skills scares even the strongest of oppositions.
The best scrumhalf based in Fiji, Nikola Matawalu was not selected because he is in the Fiji Navy and thus was banned from entering New Zealand.
Leone Nakarawa, who was employed by the Fiji Military Forces had to resign from his job so that he could be part of the team to the Rugby World Cup. He is undoubtedly one of Fiji’s most standout forwards at the World Cup.
The worst selection in the Fiji team has to be of the Fijian Fullback, France based Kini Murimurivalu. He has never played fullback for his french team, Clermont Auvergne. He was always used as a reserve winger and an under study to Former clermont wing, Napolioni Nalaga.
His selection was perhaps due to favouritism because Kini was part of the Fiji junior team at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championships which was managed by the coach, Sam Domoni’s brother, Dan Domoni.
The FRU was given FJD$3million dollars by the Fiji Government in preparations for the Rugby World Cup and according to recent reports, all the money is gone.
Fiji has probably been the biggest disappointment of the tournament thus far. Many rugby pundits have not given Fiji any chance of defeating Wales this weekend.
The Fiji Rugby Union has itself to blame for Fiji’s misfortunes and after the World Cup, they have to find out where they went wrong. In my view, though, the answer is obvious and lies with the coaching staff.
Most importantly, they have to rectify that mistake for the betterment of Fiji rugby because history does repeat itself and the loss to Samoa meant Fiji does not automatically qualify for the next World Cup.
Qualification for the 2015 World Cup is now required, and if the same coaches and managerial team is retained, the chances of seeing Fiji at the next world cup seems less likely.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.