Last Thursday, the Fiji Rugby Union were the first official team welcomed to the Rugby World Cup 2015, and this Friday they play in the opening match against England.
Hosted at the lavish Hampton Court Palace, the Fijian players and management showed their Islands Style in not only their dress sense, but also in their preparations and attitude toward the opening match at this years tournament. Possibly one of the biggest occasions in the Islands rugby history (first test 1924) when the ball is kicked off Friday night; that is Saturday morning in Lautoka, this nation will be glued to the local television footage.
Both sides have been named, with the English team having the most to prove and while they have the home team support, rugby purists can allow themselves a recognition of what this nation has brought to the game, and what they might potentially do in 2015. Winners of the Pacific Nations Cup, they have a recent unbeaten run and a close defeat by the New Zealand Maori side means that they enter the tournament full of confidence.
As we look at all of the sides who are competing in this 2015 tournament hosted by England and Wales, Scott Hornell provides an exaple of the strong bonds that develops between a team and their fanbase, and features an open letter from a loyal Fijian fan, Jovilisi Waqa.
__________________________________________________
“FOR FIJI”
As the dust settled on Twickenham last Saturday [after the England v Ireland game] and at the Stoop on Sunday last weekend [after Fiji had played Canada] nothing else would have been on the minds of England and Fiji players minds, as they knew that their next match would be their massive opening battle of the Rugby World Cup 2015. on September 18th.
A lot has been said by the media, supporters, players, former players and coaches from many different nations who have all given their view on this Cup opener, and the so called “Pool Of Death.” Fiji are in the same grouping as England, Wales, Australia and Uruguay and for us Fijian’s it is a chance to bury the ghost of the failed 2011 tournament where we lost two games [heavily] That sides 2011 results: Fiji 49 Namibia 25, Fiji 3 South Africa 49, Fiji 7 Samoa 7 and Fiji 0 Wales 66.
The game last Sunday (Monday Fiji time) against Canada has given plenty of positives for fans to hold onto, especially in the scrums and lineouts where everyone knows Fijian Rugby have struggled at times through the years. This is proof that input from coaching staff member Frans Ludeke has been immediate and was very visible for all in that game. The Canadians found out last Sunday that we have benefited from fresh input of new coaching staffs and the sides intensive build-up. The Flying Fijians even scored tries on the back of a solid scrum, in which I would like to mention the importance of Manasa Saulo and of course the outstanding Campese Ma’afu.
That the team held their own in the tight is something that Head Coach John McKee wanted ironed out before they left for the tournament proper. “We are working on handling the pressure we know that we must expect against England, Australia or Wales. The players are going to have to handle it for a longtime and we cannot just sit there and take it, we should be able to hold our own for long periods at a time” he said. If the Fijians continue to improve, then 2015 will be a great time for all Fijian fans back in the Islands.
These improvements were visible on Sunday for everyone to see, so England might possibly be a little worried because any lapse on their part, the Flying Fijians can pounce and punish them. International rugby is about taking your advantages and Fiji looked very good last weekend. Both Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell were on hand at The Stoop and would have witnessed for themselves the opening 40 minutes that was an ‘Fijian blitz’. They must have made notes on the sides attack as well as their assured defensive play. For the majority of the game, they looked good before changes in the second half, and the loss of Nikola Matawalu, put a halt to what could have been a South-Seas Islands storm. Final score was 47-18.
“We have seen a lot of the Fiji team, we have watched all their Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) games, including the final when they beat Samoa. They were very good in that tournament, they have been unbeaten for quite a while and are clearly in good form to extend their unbeaten run today” Stuart Lancaster was reported as saying. “Fiji have improved in their structured game and are strong in the unstructured facets of the game too”. Great compliments from the English team coach.
In general, from what many of us saw from back home via the Fiji Rugby Union YouTube live feed, it was a good performance after that amazing PNC final against Samoa a month ago. Playing Canada gave us much needed ‘real game time’ that the team badly needed. Knowing England had been playing many more warm-ups over the last month than we had; ending with victory last Saturday over Ireland, our team needed that win.
It is clear from the English games how Fiji has to nullify the English forwards from getting their rhythm, especially as Ben Morgan, Tom Wood and Tom Youngs each constantly wreaked havoc against the Irish. So Fiji’s loose forwards have to be on their toes around the ruck area to stop these three weapons from reaching that gain line. There is also the threat of Joe Launchbury, who is exceptional at the breakdown and wins turnovers liked an extra openside flanker.
I believe our line speed in defense has to step-up too, to stop the England team getting quick ball to their strong midfield. They often create a wide channel to work with which was effective for them again on Saturday. Both Anthony Watson and Jonny May were freely given room to move, and each scored great tries. To counter that, Nemani Nadolo and Waisea Nayacalevu have to be ready for each of them. That “Battle of the Wingers” will be a great contest, but not forgetting the sly Mike Brown at fullback. He could be a real threat if the defensive line fails to act. If our backline does not contain players like Brown early, he might effect the advantage line and use offloads to set May or Watson free.
The offloads from our own lanky tall timber Leone Nakarawa is something the English have to consider themselves. He is operating really well, and if that continues in the opening match, then England would be troubled if that clean ball reaches the backline to use our power out wide. That is one of our strengths though in some positions; like halfback, players are evenly matched. The nippy Nikola Matawalu, with his sevens knowledge and freakish skills, will get the due attention of England Captain Chris Robshaw and wily James Haskell. The scrum must go well for Fiji to have any chance.
THE STAGE IS NOW SET
In just a matter of days, the stage is set for the opening match in this all important tournament. The war of words has been spoken and it is time to deliver the goods, I say. The English side have their proud home record to defend and will of course want to begin their own campaign positively. But, could we a country of 800,000 loyal fans overrun our former colonial rulers for the first time after five previous contests? In those past games, the result has always gone the hosts way in front of a vocal home crowd. On September 18th at Twickenham, the pressure will be on each side to perform and I am hoping we can make history.
In his farewell speech to the players before they departed, our President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau told the players not to take head of all the opinions going around. He said to the team “this year is different. Some top international players are saying Fiji is going to do well, and will surprise a lot of people. Don’t let that get into your head, as you have to equip yourselves on the field. For that, you have been training well and on the ground is where you need to produce the goods, I have no doubt” Bolea.
Words from our Prime Minister “We have always punched above our weight, that is why our Sevens team are the current World Sevens Series Champions. That is why anyone who in the Rugby World Cup who underestimates Fiji this year, will be in trouble. I have been told that all we had to do is match the British, and if we shove the Aussies out then we will be in the quarter finals”.
In just a number of days now, we take on England with the words of our President ringing loud in our hearts. “This is the best prepared Fiji team that we have ever sent across to the Rugby World Cup. The prayers of all Fijians will go with you, and you don’t have to ask for that but it is given willingly”. Those words of encouragement are what all the villagers and fans of Fijian rugby believe.
I would like to also make a ‘special shout-out’ to all the players in this tournament who are of Fijian decent, or have ties with Fiji: in the Australian side, Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight. For Tonga, Joe Tuineau and Jack Ram. For the USA side, Andrew Durutalo. In the French team, Noa Naikataci and playing for Italy, Samu Vunisa. Playing for, and leading the Japan side is Michael Leitch, and selected for New Zealand is Waisake Naholo. As a nation, we will all be cheering for those men as they play in the tournament for their representative country, as we are all related one way or the other here in the islands.
As well, we respect all our Pacifica brothers from Samoa and Tonga. All the best to your players and their supporters and like we will be trying to, we will do the Islands proud.
Vakanuinui Vinaka (all the best boys)
This was an open letter from a loyal Fijian fan, Jovilisi Waqa.
___________________________________________________
Last Word on Sports thanks our contributor for his honest viewpoint on the Fijian Rugby side, who have some of the fiercest and most vocal fans in World Rugby.
LWOS will follow the Flying Fijians progress as they get set to open the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Friday, 18th September. Look for more regular updates on this teams progress in the tournament from Editor Scott Hornell.
“Main photo”
