Fiji name explosive side for final World Cup pool match against Wales
Fiji head coach John McKee has made just one change to his side that ran out 45-10 victors over Georgia last week for their upcoming clash against Wales.
The match acts as Fiji’s final pool match for the tournament, and although their hopes of making a second-ever quarter-final appearance have been nullified after losses to Australia and Uruguay, they could make life troublesome for the Welsh as they eye top spot in Pool D.
Warren Gatland’s side need two wins from their final two group matches over the coming week to secure their place at the summit of the pool ahead of the Wallabies.
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However, with the talent evident in McKee’s side for Wednesday’s encounter, the reigning Six Nations champions will need to have their wits about them if they’re to avoid a repeat of their catastrophic 38-34 pool stage loss to Fiji at the 2007 World Cup, which cost them a place in the last eight.
The only alteration to the Flying Fijians’ starting side comes at No. 8, with Olympic gold medal-winner Viliame Mata replacing star loose forward Peceli Yato, who drops to the bench.
That means the likes of Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Dominiko Waqaniburotu and Waisea Nayacalevu have all been retained following their standout showings against Georgia, which should complicate proceedings for Wales.
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Waqaniburotu, in particular, was one to have caught the eye of McKee, with the skipper named to start his fourth pool match of the tournament.
“Dominiko is certainly a player who leads from the front and is highly respected among the group,” McKee said.
“I know that for our players, when Dominiko is out there, he gives them a real lift because he is such a high work-rate player. He often doesn’t get the same accolades as some of our other players, who get involved in the more dynamic parts of the game.
“He was certainly one of our best against Georgia, just with his work-rate, on his ball carries and his cleanout work around the breakdown, which is going to be essential for us in this game.”
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Waqaniburotu’s presence in the back row alongside Mata, who has returned to full fitness after sustaining a calf strain, and Semi Kunatani will be vital if Fiji are to emulate their nation’s success against Wales from 12 years ago.
The battle at the breakdown between both sets of loose forwards is something that McKee is wary of and highlighted that as his side’s biggest threat to attaining a result in Oita in two days’ time.
“We’ve looked at Wales closely and we can see what a strong side they are around the breakdown,” he said.
“One of the closest battles will be around the breakdown. Wales certainly look to attack the ball on the carriers and either try to win turnovers or slow the ball up.
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“That is going to be a critical area for us, firstly to make sure we get good continuity and that secondly we are effective enough to get quick ball.”
In the reserves, a further two changes have been made, with injury call-up Lee-Roy Atalifo coming out of the match day in place of Eroni Mawi, while Mesulame Dolokoto is named as the replacement hooker ahead of Tuvere Vugakoto.
A win for the Fijians would guarantee them third place in Pool D, which would secure the Pacific side automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup in France ahead of both Georgia and Uruguay.
Even if they lose, third place is still a realistic outcome given the vast unlikelihood of either Georgia or Uruguay accruing competition points their respective opponents – Australia and Wales – in their final pool matches this week.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6:45pm (local time) at Oita Dome on Wednesday.
Fiji side to play Wales:
1. Campese Ma’afu
2. Samuel Matavesi
3. Manasa Saulo
4. Tevita Cavubati
5. Leone Nakarawa
6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt.)
7. Semi Kunatani
8. Viliame Mata
9. Frank Lomani
10. Ben Volavola
11. Semi Radradra
12. Lepani Botia
13. Waisea Nayacalevu
14. Josua Tuisova
15. Kini Murimurivalu
Reserves:
16. Mesulame Dolokoto
17. Eroni Mawi
18. Peni Ravai
19. Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
20. Peceli Yato
21. Nikola Matawalu
22. Jale Vatubua
23. Josh Matavesi
A different side to Japanese culture:
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
55 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
55 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
55 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
55 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
55 Go to comments