Marching into the early hours of 2022, happy New Year to you and yours.
I know we have a blockbuster sports year ahead where we get a dream start in Super Rugby when the Fijian Drua sets sail, the domestic 7s series starts next week followed by the World 7s Series a week after, plus we have a new Fijian 7s coach in Englishman Ben Gollings.
There is the gold hunt at the Commonwealth Games and World Cup, some big Test matches lined up for the Flying Fijians in the build-up to next year’s World Cup, Football’s World Cup qualifiers leading towards Qatar 2022, O-League for football clubs, Pacific Mini Games and much more.
It seems like we are on a rollercoaster ride already and it’s just the beginning of the year.
In the Christmas rush and the euphoria of buying gifts for loved ones at a prominent duty-free shop last week, I was stopped and asked by a rugby fan to pick the best number 10 in the game.
I gave him an answer but that question also propelled interest within to scribe my Fijian Dream Team.
I thought it would be best to go as far back as 1987, when the first World Cup was held, and pick my Dream 15. A lot of youngsters in the game or rugby fans might get lost a wee bit and might need help from their best friend Google but let’s go: 1. Mosese Taga (prop); 2. Greg Smith (Hooker, captain); 3. Joeli Veitayaki (prop); 4. Ilaitia Savai (lock); 5. Ifereimi Rawaqa (lock); 6. Ilivasi Tabua (blindside flanker); 7. Manasa Qoro (openside flanker); 8. Koli Rakoroi (No. 8); 9. Samisoni Viriviri – (halfback); 10. Nicky Little (first-five); 11. Rupeni Caucau (left wing); 12. Viliame Satala (second-five); 13. Semi Radradra (centre); 14. Marika Vunibaka (wing); and 15. Severo Koroduadua (fullback).
There are fringe players in any choice and I hope I could name more stars for every position, but what a front row with Smith as the leader and hard heads Taga and Veitayaki on either side of him. The likes of Dan Rouse, Epeli Natuivau, Salacieli Naivilawasa, Sunia Koto are some others that can make any team. I picked towering Savai in the second row – he was a man mountain. I had the opportunity to meet him in the early ‘90s for the first time when Nadi defended the Farebrother trophy against Tailevu at Prince Charles Park. The first handshake reminded me of the giant in the English fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk. Savai played with all his heart and strength in a match and was a great leader.
Vuda’s Ifereimi Rawaqa is my other lock choice because he displayed the best qualities of a second rower and also had speed, on a good day and sound track, Tiff will smoke wingers to the try line. Missing out closely in this area include Emori Katalau, Kele Leawere and Aisale ‘Marsh’ Nadolo.
The breakaways are always a contentious trio. I heard the famous All Blacks skip, Richie McCaw was overlooked in a Dream Team – safe to say that’s how tough getting jersey numbers 6, 7 and 8 is in rugby. I had to give number 6 to Tabua, also known as the Human Skewer. He was incredible in that position for Fiji and later made a name for himself in the same number, but in a different jumper in green and gold (Australia). Many would ask who is Manasa Qoro? The Nawaka villager of Nadi was a workhorse.
He played 7s for Fiji in Hong Kong and stood out at the 1987 World Cup. He wasn’t very tall and probably was just as tall as me, but he was solid and carried 100 kilograms-plus and was a terrier at breakdowns.
I still remember hearing Graham Eden’s commentary from New Zealand when Qoro kicked a 40m drop goal vs Italy to become the first rugby forward to kick one. Rakoroi gets my nod at the back of the scrum but just by a hair’s breadth from Esala Teleni (once named in the World 15) along with the likes of Alivereti Mocelutu or Netani Talei. Nadi man Viriviri, who was part of the 1977 famous victory over the British Lions in Suva, got my nod at number nine with Little as fly-half. I would move Satala to second-five to make room for Radradra at centre. In fact, Radradra is the lone player from the current crop that has made my Dream Team for a selection that weighs just over three decades. I think he is a gifted player and I was relating to a friend just this week that upon his return from injury, he was in devastating form and set up a wonderful try for Bristol vs Leicester with his trademark offload. Bua bullet Caucau and Vione flyer Vunibaka on the flanks – wow!
At their peak, both were great to watch and the razzle dazzle that they brought with the fl air and speed to burn with sidestep at pace – just awesome and top-shelf stuff. Try watching Caucau’s tries that he scored in 2003 against France and Scotland in the 2003 World Cup at Ballymore in Brisbane. I was on the stands with Laisiasa Rogoyawa (cameraman), we followed that team and had some great moments with Caucau. He was suspended for two games and so we would go with him for ‘meet the fans’ days and he’d take the mic and start interviews with other players.
Those bloopers will be fun to pick up from archives and watch today. Fiji is known to produce wingers and there are many that have donned the white – Tom Mitchell, Tomasi Cama, Serupepeli Tuvula, Kavekini Nalaga, Vilimoni Delasau and Nemani Nadolo are some who could slot in any dream team. Severo ‘Big Boot’ Koroduadua is easily my choice at 15.
He was great in his running game and had a boot that could kick the ball from Suva and they’d pick it up in Ba Town. Close to call would be Alfred Uluinayau and Norman Ligairi.
World’s best
My pick as the 2021 World Player of the Year would be inspirational South African captain Siya Kolisi.
He possesses all the qualities you would want in a player, plus he is a great captain. He led the Springboks to beat the British and Irish Lions 2-1 in the Test Series, his side defeating the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship was the game of the event. Kolisi was always calm and played to his best in every Test. He was an intelligent leader which made the difference at crunch time.
Siya was outstanding as he led South Africa to start the year as number one-ranked in the world and finish the year as the top side in the world. Enjoy the first weekend of 2021 and for sports-loving fans, you don’t have to wait much longer for action to start as the Fiji Rugby 7s Series starts on Thursday in Sigatoka.
All the best, stay safe and enjoy sports in 2022.
- SATISH NARAIN is a sports commentator with FBC. The views expressed are the author’s and do not reflect the views of this newspaper or his employer.
