'Nadolo motivated is a monster' - Fiji powerhouse set for Test return
Vern Cotter, the new Fiji coach, has included “monster “ wing Nemani Nadolo in his squad for the Autumn Nations Cup. Nadolo, who quit test rugby last year, is back in the squad after a successful switch to Leicester proved he was still a defence busting force.
Cotter, who has yet to meet up with his players, selected a squad of 32 players for a camp on 25 October after spending the last while watching videos of European matches while also keeping tabs on those operating in New Zealand, where he has been based during the pandemic.
Fiji will play France on 15 November, Italy on 21 November and Scotland on 29 November, and besides Nadolo’s return to international rugby, Cotter also has Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova in a powerful squad that will play a warm-up match against Portugal on 6 November.
Cotter, the former Scotland coach, worked with Nadolo at Montpellier and said: “I know him well because he was at Montpellier and we have a strong relationship, plus he has done well at Leicester Tigers in Premiership rugby. He has assured me that he is playing well and he really wants to play, we feel he’s motivated, and Nadolo motivated is a monster.”
Nadolo made a try scoring impact at Leicester, who endured another poor season, but he remains a wrecking ball in attack and adds vital experience to a squad that includes nine Fiji based players who are part of the Skipper Cup and have been training together under the Fiji Rugby Academy; Tevita Ikanivere, Samuela Tawake, Jone Koroiduadua, Chris Minimbi, Manueli Ratuniyarawa, Peni Matawalu, Simione Kuruvoli, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Serupepeli Vularika.
“These players have the ability, with guidance from senior players, to become great Flying Fijians,” said Cotter. “We certainly (will) be demanding a lot from them with guidance by the senior ones in the squad.”
New Zealand based Waikato prop Haereiti Hetet, Northland forward Temo Mayanavanua and France based Kitione Kamikamica and Lekima Tagitagivalu have also been selected after impressing Cotter.
“Haereiti is an unknown player but his father isn’t, he’s the son of Joeli Veitayaki, somebody who is very well known,” added Cotter. “Haereiti has really impressed us with his performance as he can play both sides, left and right, and he is very excited about this opportunity.
“We won’t be going far away from relying on Leone Nakarawa to help these young players in coping with international rugby pressures so his arm around those players plus guidance from other experienced players will be very important. We will sit down to explain what we want from them as our expectations are very high.
“I don’t talk a lot as rugby is played on the field and they are good rugby players so we just going to explain what we expect from them and have a very simple approach to that game, drawing from their talent and using it in the best way possible.”
Poor Nigel described it as a 'nightmare' ?https://t.co/zaDSPpgeZp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2020
Fiji Rugby Chief Executive John O’Connor confirmed travel details and visas are still being sorted out for the squad along with the release of players from their clubs.
O’Connor said “We are also dealing with the clubs on the release of our players and there could be changes to the squad if the situation requires so. It is important that we perform at this high level since it will open new pathway and opportunities for the players and Fiji Rugby.”
FLYING FIJIANS 2020 TOURING SQUAD:
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Eroni Mawi
Peni Ravai
Haereiti Hetet
HOOKER
Mesulame Dolokoto
Sam Matavesi
Tevita Ikanivere
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Samuela Tawake
Mesake Doge
Jone Koroiduadua
SECOND ROW
Tevita Ratuva
Leone Nakarawa
Temo Mayanavanua
Chris Minimbi
BACK ROW / UTILITY
Mesulame Kunavula
Kitione Kamikamica
Johnny Dyer
Albert Tuisue
Manueli Ratuniyarawa
Lekima Tagitagivalu
HALFBACK
Frank Lomani
Peni Matawalu
Simione Kuruvoli
FLYHALF
Ben Volavola
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
CENTER
Lepani Botia
Serupepeli Vularika
Jale Vatubua
Waisea Nayacalevu
Semi Radradra
WINGER
Nemani Nadolo
Josua Tuisova
FULLBACK
Kini Murimurivalu
Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
22 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
22 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 commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
22 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
22 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
22 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
22 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to comments