Upset Fiji fans turn on coach John McKee
Fijian rugby fans have turned on head coach John McKee on social media after his side were upset by Uruguay on Wednesday at the World Cup.
After losing to Australia last Saturday, Fiji were shocked by an impassioned Uruguay side, who took a 24-12 half-time lead and managed to hold onto a 30-27 win.
Boasting some world-class players, Fiji were tipped by many to cause some upsets at this year’s RWC with the Wallabies and Wales also in their pool. However, their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals now look very slim.
A lot of the blame has fallen on McKee after the result, as he opted to make twelve changes to the starting XV that looked very dangerous against Australia. His side were leading the Wallabies at half-time at the weekend, although Michael Cheika’s side did pull away at the end. But Fiji simply did not turn up against Uruguay.
In light of the result, McKee has been lambasted for making as many changes as he did. Unfortunately, Fiji only had three days off between matches, which is hugely taxing on the players and meant changes must be made.
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However, the volume of alterations is what many fans are not happy about, and it perhaps shows that Uruguay were underestimated. McKee has also been criticised for the changes that he made during the game, which seemed to lack any urgency despite Fiji being in a perilous position.
While it is always a tough ask for any coach to select a team after such a short turnaround, fans are now calling for the New Zealander to be sacked.
He has been in the role since 2014 and has built a side that have had some impressive results over the years, including beating France in 2018, but Fiji’s hopes of doing anything special at this RWC are in tatters and the fingers are being pointed at the coach. This is what has been said:
Key points •McKee can’t coach •Mckee doesn’t know how to use the bench • Senioli n Matavesi fk off •Matawalu only one that showed up •Too much Yaqona • Fiji to unfit • No set plays
— Eronz (@EroniGKF) September 25, 2019
Goodbye McKee.. Goodnight Fiji #DVC ??
— Solo (@soloraicebe) September 25, 2019
Guess McKee better start packing. There is No way he will still have his job after the World Cup. The Fiji public are brutal after a loss like today… Congratulations Uruguay, you clearly wanted it more ?
— Tara Kanaenabogi (@TaranaiviniK) September 25, 2019
John McKee's gamble of fielding a second-string side doesn't pay-off as Uruguay claim the first major upset of the #RWC2019. Fiji's qualification chances hanging by a thread #FIJvURU :
— Sheldon Chanel (@sschanel16) September 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/gavidi_wame/status/1176772139065778176?s=20
https://twitter.com/ram_mavish/status/1176753924121886720?s=20
Woowww a deserved win ???? #Uruguayrugby#flyingfijians have just became laughing stock ????
Special thanks to our coach #johnmckee for selecting reserves thinking that #fiji are playing a trial match
Kickers r ????
Truly heart broken ????#FIJvURU #RWC2019 https://t.co/4y73bVnCQ4— ritasha.fj (@ritasha_fj) September 25, 2019
Is this a bad dream? WTF @fijirugby @fijivillage @fijitimes Please retire now Josh Matavesi @theflyingfijian coz you were just trash and wtf was funny about missing kicks..John McKee you need to go…
— Dr. (@Am2Gud4) September 25, 2019
Fiji now have eight days to prepare for their contest against Georgia, and then have six days before they play Wales in the final game of the pool.
They will need to win both of those games if they are to stand any chance of making out of their group, but they will still be dependent on other results going their way in what may prove to be a disappointing RWC campaign.
WATCH: Part two of the RugbyPass Rugby World Cup Memories series sees Scotland legend Gavin Hastings reflect on the 1991 tournament
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
26 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
26 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
26 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
26 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
26 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
26 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
26 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments