Braves Blossoms lost their steam in their quarterfinals against South Africa. Photo: NikkeiAsia
In spite of the last minute effort by the Welsh to comeback and snatch a win from France; the Red Dragons look the better contender to advance to the finals against England in a fortnight.
Watching the game on television last night, the French had done enough to win the match but didn’t have the killer punch to amass enough points to keep the margin clear from the grasp of the Six Nations champion, Wales.
Wales sing their national anthem before their win against Australia. Photo: BBC
The introduction of Super Typhoon Hagibis to the Rugby World Cup which threatens the last pool matches over the weekend would very likely favour the Flying Fijians.
Fiji’sleft winger Semi Radradra loses an aerial battle against his Georgian counterpart. Photo: World Rugby
After four years of being groomed in the pocket of intense pressure, coach John McKee is beginning to see the fruits of nurturing and belief in fly-half Ben Volavola in the dismantling of the strong Georgians with a 45-10 scoreline yesterday in their third match of the Rugby World Cup.
Alifereti Veitokani lines up a shot for the Flying Fijians. Photo: Getty Images
The 23-member team to face Uruguay need to have a balance of experience and youth to make sure Fiji notches a bonus points win yet have a fresh squad to face Georgia next Thursday.
The Flying Fijians have a few players who did not play against Australia who could be named in the starting 15 for the Los Teros at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium at Kamaishi on the northern area of Honshu.
Peceli Yato and Ben Volavola hold up Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi at Sapporo. Photo: AP
The Flying Fijians played an expansive, flamboyant game in the first half of their opening Rugby World Cup match but bowed out graciously to a better team in the second half.
The cohesiveness of the forwards and backline was sublime forcing the clueless twice world champions to play second fiddle.
The final 21-39 scoreline hardly reflected on the actual action on field activity which saw Fiji still leading the Australians at the end of the third quarter 21-20.
Flying Fijian flyhalf Ben Volavola with Holywood star girlfriend Shailene Woodley in New York. Photo: gotceleb
The halves combination is one of the most important aspects of any team whether club competition or the highest level in the Rugby World Cup which kicks off tomorrow night in Tokyo.
Coach John McKee has not been coy about his choice at number nine with Frank Lomani debuting in the global showpiece which the Savusavu native deservedly merits with his exploits on show in the last November Tests in Europe and the last couple of Pacific Nations Cup series.
The pairing of Tevita Cavubati and Leone Nakarawa as locks for the opener against Australia is a foregone conclusion after manning those berths towards the end part of the Pacific Nations Cup and Tonga in the Pasifika challenge in Auckland.
Flying Fijians lock Tevita Cavubati reacts after Fiji scored a try against Wales in the 2015 RWC. Photo: Stuff
I was wearing a Wallaby shirt the other day and someone commented; are you a Wallaby fan? To which I replied of course.
The navy blue quality polo shirt with Australian logos and insignia was a gift to me from my younger sister who lives in Melbourne and I enjoy wearing it.
The loose forwards to start in a fortnight for the Flying
Fijians Rugby World Cup opener have to be carefully selected with the best openside
international flanker David Pocock possibly suiting up at the Sapporo Dome.
Muscled pilferer, David Pocock.
Pocock has been named at his favourite openside flanker position
in his return after a six-month layoff through a calf injury; to skipper the
Wallabies in their last warm up against Samoa on Saturday in Sydney.
Depending on the position he plays, Pocock has to be closely
monitored whether he plays his preferred position at number seven or number 8
where he effectively undermined Fiji’s chances in the last Rugby World Cup.
Skipper Dominiko Waqaniburotu who will be opposite Pocock if he
plays his normal berth at number 6, has to be doubly alert in the breakdowns
where Pocock makes his mark in the first to react and pinch the ball from the
carrier.
When given too much time and space, Pocock as he did against the
Flying Fijians at the 2015 RWC had a field day in turnover balls which robbed
Fiji of control and hard earned possession which they bested the Aussies at 53
percent.
If his counterpart and the whole team keep abreast of the
ability of this pilferer, he can be contained and his potential in dominating
the game minimised in protecting the ball carrier from the Australians.
An option would be playing Levani Botia at number 6 and moving
Waqaniburotu at openside to watch and negate Pocock’s prowess at the
breakdowns.
On the opposite number 6 for the Wallabies is incumbent captain
Michael Hooper who is not too far behind Pocock in ability and quickness to
react in the creation of a breakdown.
Another option is to allow Botia to play a dual role in
blindside flanker and inside back intermittently changing with Semi Kunatani or
the bigger form of Jale Vatubua who could play number 6 at Wallaby throw-ins at
set pieces.
A little variation and unorthodoxy could throw the Aussies off
to the Flying Fijians advantage and Kunatani or Vatubua could do with some
innovative plays to ignite creativity which naturally breeds energy and
enthusiasm.
Flying Fijian skipper Dominiko Waqaniburotu leads Fiji against France at the Stade de France in Paris last November.
The Pocock factor in mauls cost Fiji 12 points in the deficit in
the 2015 RWC encounter within five minutes and saw the Wallabies lead 15-3 in
the 31st minute at the Millennium Stadium.
If Pocock comes out at Sapporo Dome in a number 8 strip then we
will have to pick between Viliame Mata and the stronger Peceli Yato to contain
him.
Mata has evidently bulked up after three seasons with Guinness premier for Edinburgh but Yato with a longer service for his Clermont club in the Top 14 has a few years advantage in experience and gym work to match the Australian champion ball hunter.
The Nadroga loosie needs to check his exuberance though, with fiery exchanges which cost the team 10 minutes with 14 players after copping a yellow card after retaliating threw punches at the Tongans in their last warm up at Eden Park.
The Australians who have returned from a 10-day bonding and intensive training in Noumea have prepared well for the rugby showpiece in Japan and will come fired up for their first match on September 21.
It maybe a coincidence but the Pacific rivals clashed on almost the same date four years ago at the Cardiff stadium which saw the Australians defeat Fiji 28-13.
FRB will be looking at the different positions for the Flying Fijians in their RWC introduction first match against Australia in the next few posts.
Inside centre Lepani Botia played well against Ikale Tahi Tonga at Eden Park on Saturday.
The combination of Lepani Botia and Semi Radradra in the
centres against the Ikale Tahi Tonga on Saturday underlined the importance of
selection for the Flying Fijians for each opposition in the coming Rugby World
Cup.
The pair stood their ground in controlling the Tongan
onslaught and had loads of resilience to turn the tide from defence to attack
in the little possession afforded the team which resulted in two quick fire
tries in the first half.
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