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'Fit and tactically astute': Fiji hitting World Cup in dangerous form
The Rugby World Cup pools have been a huge talking point leading into the 2023 fixture and now just 28 days out, fans have their clearest picture yet of how teams are tracking for the tournament.
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While The Rugby Championship offered the southern hemisphere’s tier-one nations their final preparations before heading to Europe, the Pacific Nations Cup offered the likes of Tonga, Samoa, Japan and Fiji a launchpad to hit France fit and firing.
Fiji emerged from the Pacific Nations Cup victorious after a clean sweep was confirmed in a 35-12 win over Japan.
The win was far from lacking in Flying Fijian extravagance with numerous tries disallowed on top of the 35-point tally. But it was the other areas that impressed former All Black James Parsons.
“What I saw from Fiji against Japan, they are fit and tactically astute,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“Some of their exits and discipline to exit, there was a red card and they got maybe a little bit carried away with trying to play too much but if they can keep that discipline they showed in that first 20-30 minutes against Japan, they’re a well-oiled machine. Benny Volavola, man he is running a good cutter so I think they’re a chance.”
Volavola has since been left out of Fiji’s World Cup squad in favour of Caleb Muntz and Teti Tela, both of whom impressed in prior PNC matches.
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The loss cemented Japan’s fate, with an unflattering third-place finish piling on further misery from the resounding losses ceded at the hands of the All Blacks XV just weeks earlier.
The alarming results paint a stark picture for Jamie Joseph’s side who face perhaps the most competitive pool in the World Cup, squaring off with England, Argentina, Samoa and Chile.
“Two games of that Pacific Cup they lost a red card early which doesn’t help,” Parsons added. “But the Fijian pack just monstered them. Like, monstered.”
Japan’s teams have in recent campaigns made a name for themselves as World Cup wildcards, claiming historic wins over South Africa and Ireland in the 2015 and 2019 tournaments respectively.
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Now, England and Argentina sit as favourites to qualify for the quarter-final stages and Samoa have even leapfrogged Japan in the World Rugby rankings.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments