Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'It's an honour when I play with him, but against Bristol all bets are off' - Matavesi rates Radradra 'best in the world'

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Josh Matavesi insists his camaraderie with Semi Radradra will be discarded when he collides with his Fiji team-mate in Friday’s West Country derby between Bath and Bristol. Matavesi and Radradra line-up in opposing midfields in the Gallagher Premiership clash at Ashton Gate having operated together on the international stage for the last two years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bath’s versatile playmaker views Fijian magician Radradra as the sport’s star attraction – but for reasons beyond the dazzling skills that repeatedly outwits defences.

“I’ve played quite a lot of rugby with Semi for Fiji, including at the World Cup, so I know him well and know it’s a hard job to tackle him,” Matavesi said.

Video Spacer

Andy Farrell and Jonny Sexton face the media:

Video Spacer

Andy Farrell and Jonny Sexton face the media:

“For me, he’s the best player in the world and that’s because I know what he does off the field.

“People see what he does in the 80 minutes, but for me it’s what he does Monday to Friday – that’s when he earns my respect. He’s dedicated and is a good role model for the younger Fijians as well.

“He’s a great communicator on the pitch. Coming from a Fijian background, we’re normally very quiet people – it might be my Cornish side that makes me loud! – but he’s great at feeding you information.

“He also does the dirty work like hitting rucks. It’s not just goose-stepping and offloading, he does carry hard and straight as well. It’s an honour when I play with him, but against Bristol all bets are off.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Bristol are looking to extend their lead at the summit of the Premiership when they clash against local rivals who have managed only two wins from their six league outings.

The second fixture on Friday night sees Alex Sanderson take charge of his first game as Sale’s new director of rugby when the Sharks visit Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where Leicester are showing signs of resurgence under Steve Borthwick.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 1 hour ago
The changes Scott Robertson must make to address All Blacks’ bench woes

Hopefully Robertson and co aren't applying this type of thinking to their selections, although some of their moves this year have suggested that might be the case.


The first half of Foster's tenure, when he was surrounded by coaches who were not up to the task, was disastrous due to this type of reactionary chopping and changing. No clear plan of the direction of travel or what needs to be built to get there. Just constant tinkering. A player gets dropped one week, on the bench the next, back to starting the next, dropped for the next week again. Add in injuries and other variations of this selection pattern, combined with vastly different game plans from one week to the next and it's no wonder the team isn't clicking on attack and are making incredibly basic errors on both sides of the ball.


When Schmidt and Ryan got involved selections became far more consistent and the game plan far simpler and the dividends were instant, and they accepted bad performances as part of building towards the world cup. They were able to distinguish between bad plans and bad execution and by the time the finals rolled around they were playing their best rugby as a team.


Chopping and changing the team each week sends the signal that you don't really know what you are doing or why, and you are just reacting to what happened last week, selecting a team to replay the previous game rather than preparing for the next one and building for the future.

9 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks handed good and bad news ahead of Wallabies Test All Blacks handed good and bad news ahead of Wallabies Test
Search