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Fiji U20s show their teeth ahead of World Rugby U20 Championship
After suffering a 53-7 defeat to New Zealand in the opening round, Fiji showed their teeth against Australia on Tuesday, with a far more respectable 16-0 loss in the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship.
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The tournament is an annual benchmark for how the Pacific-based sides will go in the World Rugby U20 Championship, which this year will be hosted by Argentina.
Fiji are set to play in their first championship since 2014, when they were relegated to the World Rugby Trophy. Three fruitless years in the second tier of age-grade rugby followed, before the islanders were able to secure promotion back to the top tier last year.
A number of players will be returning from that successful side, including fly-half Caleb Muntz, who whilst not quite at his best at Bond University on Tuesday against Australia, will provide valuable control and game-management to the Fijian side in Argentina. Eight players in the squad have also been blooded in the Fiji Warriors side recently, ensuring that their international futures are now tied to Fiji.
There were plenty of positives to take out of the game for the team and their coach Kele Leawere, as Fiji’s scrum was able to match up well and even exert pressure on their Australian counterparts, whilst their conditioning and defensive work looked to be in a good place ahead of the global championship in June. Given the lack of resources they have in comparison to their rivals from across the Coral Sea, including a lack of an attack coach or a video analyst, it was a sterling effort from Leawere’s side.
Up front, hooker and captain Tevita Veicavuyaki was effective, as was tighthead prop Livai Rasala Natave, who anchored the scrum. With number eight Aminiasi Tiritabua Shaw carrying well and making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown, Fiji were able to hold their own against the Australian pack.
The back line was not as fluid as they would have liked, but outside centre Ilaisa Droasese looked consistently threatening, as well as making a number of effective defensive reads and one-on-one tackles. Combined with Veresa Tuqovu Ramototabua at inside centre, Fiji have the makings of a dangerous midfield pairing, especially with the all-round play of Ratu Osea Waqaninavatu being injected into the mix from full-back.
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Fiji will finish up the Oceania tournament against Japan on Saturday, where they will be hoping to turn the positive aspects of their performances against New Zealand and Australia into a morale-boosting win ahead of their return to the U20 Championship.
Fiji face reigning world champions France, hosts Argentina and Wales in the group stage of the competition and although their chances of emerging from that pool in any bracket other than the relegation playoff are slim, the young islanders have shown plenty of reasons why they can worry the likes of Georgia, Scotland and Italy, all of whom could well end up comprising the bottom four alongside Fiji in June.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments