'France 2023 could be a real watershed moment for Fijian rugby'
Vern Cotter’s former right-hand man at Clermont and Montpellier believes the New Zealander is the perfect fit for Fiji and will make them title contenders at the 2023 World Cup in France.
Cotter will take over from John McKee as Fiji’s head coach when his Montpellier contract ends in July, and the former Scotland coach will then attempt to build on the brilliant rugby the islanders produced against Australia at the 2019 World Cup.
They led the Wallabies until the last 20 minutes before falling away, and they then allowed inconsistency to shape the rest of their campaign with losses to Wales and most surprisingly Uruguay.
Former Wasps and England out-half Alex King played under Cotter at Clermont before assuming the backs coaching role which he continued at Montpellier prior to moving to Brive this season. He has seen at close hand what effect Cotter can have on players and his ability to create a winning team.
With so many Fijian players operating in France, Cotter knows exactly what challenges he faces and King is confident that over the next three years his old boss will create a team that the rest of the sport will fear at the 2023 World Cup.
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World Rugby have added pressure on teams to improve their results in 2020
King told RugbyPass: “France 2023 could be a real watershed moment for Fijian rugby. It is a brilliant appointment for Fiji because Vern is the ideal man to use the undoubted talent they have and also bring the consistency of performance and preparation that they will need.
“He is very organised and will be working with some of the most incredible rugby players on the planet. With Vern’s experience and the way he forms teams, it is a great match. Everywhere Vern has been he has improved the environment, the rugby and he has worked with a lot of Fijian players over the 20 years he has been coaching and they respond to his methods.”
Despite impressing in the pool defeat by Australia in Japan, Fiji failed in their aim of making the last eight. King expects that disappointment to now fuel their challenge in France. He explained: “Fiji underperformed at the World Cup in Japan, but every tier one nation will fear Fiji being in their pool in France in 2023.
'Vern's the right man' is the consensus https://t.co/zNEi82V754
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“The majority of Fiji’s players are in French rugby already and it won’t be too difficult to perform because they will be around family and friends who are with them in France. Vern will get them fit, well organised and with a real desire to put right what happened in Japan.
“Fiji have the best back in the world in Semi Radradra and arguably the best back row forward in Peceli Yato, and Vern will unearth some more gems in the next three years. Vern understands the Fijian culture and mentality and he will want to harness all the positive aspects.
“He will bring organisation to the forward pack and it is really exciting for Fiji to have him in charge and to be able to plot the course to the World Cup. The Fijian players work incredibly hard at their clubs and are fitter than they have ever been. It will be interesting to see if they get Scotland in their pool in 2023!”
World Rugby's plan hasn't been popular https://t.co/mVq51jV5ef
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 29, 2020
King is working with Brive alongside ex-Ireland lock Jeremy Davidson and he has invited French neighbours around to watch England’s opening Six Nations match with France on Sunday.
He is intrigued to see how Shaun Edwards, his former coach at Wasps, can influence the French defence in his new role. “I think his French accent will be a touch of the Rodney Trotters!”
WATCH: The Rugby Pod sets the scene ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and reflects on yet more Saracens fallout
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments