England's opening night opponents are a side that have had a great run into this tournament winning the Pacific Nations Cup and cruising past Canada in their final Rugby World Cup warm up. Needless to say, Fijian confidence is high and they are tipped by most to deliver an upset against a Tier 1 side in this tournament. Of course upsets are all part of the interest during a Rugby World Cup however, keep it between us when I say that I hope that the Fijian's save their big performance for Wales or Australia!!!
Prior to tomorrow night's opening fixture let's review a few statistics and facts regarding the Fijian players, with England's to follow a little later on.
Fijian Stats & Facts
Sunia Koto will become the first front-row forward to play for Fiji at three different Rugby World Cups and actually started his rugby career as a prop.
Akapusi Qera will lead his team out for the 21st time and will also appear in his third Rugby World Cup. Akapusi, who plays his rugby for Gloucester Rugby, is the most experienced member of Fiji's Rugby World Cup 2015 squad and the seventh most capped player in Fiji's history.
Vereneki Goneva is the only player that is not from a Tier 1 nation, who has scored four tries in a RWC match. This was something that Vereneki achieved in the 2011 RWC against Namibia.
It will be Nemani Nadolo’s first Rugby World Cup, with many tipping him as a player that will take this competition by storm. He is Fiji’s fifth highest points scorer with 159 points and has scored 15 tries, 18 conversion and 16 penalties during his 20 caps. Nadolo is the older brother of Chris Kuridrani and the cousin of Tevita Kuridrani and Lote Tuqiri.
Leone Nakarawa started all four of Fiji's matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and courtesy of his performances for the Glasgow Warriors is now a household name in Northern Hemisphere too. Leone's unique ability is his offloading game and that was highlighted with his contribution to the recent European Champion’s Cup competition. The lock made 25 offloads during the competition, 9 more than any other player in spite of Glasgow only featuring during the the pool stages.
The View from Camp
Fiji are more than ready for this contest, they have had the most settled and positive lead into the competition possible and want to ruffle feathers on Friday night. With so many Fijian’s plying their trade in the Northern Hesmiphere Akapusi Quera shared this week how there will be little love lost come game time;
‘We’ve got best mates in their team, but as soon as we cross that line on Friday night that’s where the friendship ends. We’ll pick it up again on Friday.’
Head Coach John McKee is a quiet and considered man and you can tell that he has enjoyed working with such a talented squad of players for a lengthy period of time;
‘We’ve been consistent in our selection - we’ve had the same players since June last year. A lot of work goes into all of our game, it’s not just one area. We know to be successful on Friday we have to go the full 80. It won’t be won in 40, 60 or 70 minutes. The intensity of test match rugby at the highest level means you need to play from the start, you need to be on your game at the start and you need to be on your game in the 80th minute.’
Fiji Rugby; 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Waisea Nayacalevu, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nikola Matawalu, 1 Campese Ma’afu, 2 Sunia Koto, 3 Manasa Saulo, 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7 Akapusi Qera (C) 8 Sakiusa Masi Matadigo Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Isei Colati, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Nemia Kenatale, 22 Joshua Matavesi, 23 Aseli Tikoirotuma.
