Playing Manu Samoa at Apia Park is going to be tough! Former Flying Fijians lockforward Wame Lewaravu and hooker Bill Gadolo believe it’s not going to be an easy task.Both of them have reminded the Flying Fijians to be prepared for a massive challenge this afternoon.
“The Samoans are just like us, very passionate about their game and tomorrow (today) will be a very, very physical game especially with a very experienced pack in the Samoan team,” Gadolo said.
While Samoan coach Seilala Mapusua has centred his team around European power play, Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui has included a number of Fijian Drua players to complement star centre Semi Radradra at inside centre.
It was good to see the Fijian community in Apia coming out in full force to support the team during yesterday’s captain’s run.
After that first win against the Ikale Tahi Tonga at Churchill Park in Lautoka last weekend, fans will be eagerly looking forward to a strong effort this afternoon.
While there will be attention focused on skipper Radradra running inside centre Iosefo Masi, die hard fans will be watching out for the likes of exciting openside flanker Vilive Miramira and blindside flanker Meli Derenalagi playing alongside seasoned number eight Viliame Mata.
Our backrow will be packed with pace, height, and physicality!It will be interesting to see how they fare against a physical Samoan backrow.Attention will also be on our halves, with Simione Kuruvoli coming in at halfback and Caleb Muntz returning at flyhalf.
The inclusion of Eroni Mawi at loosehead prop and Luke Tagi coming in at tighthead prop will be keenly watched as well with Tevita Ikanivere coming in at hooker for the afternoon.
If there’s one thing that should stand out, it will have to be the fact that players in the secondrow, backrow and frontrow have played together consistently this season in Super Rugby.And that extends to the backline.
It makes for a tested combination that will be playing together at international level.Fans will be hoping this works out positively for the Flying Fijians in Apia.For whatever it’s worth though, today is the big day!Today is when preparations will determine how the teams fare.
Raiwalui has his work cut out. He knows what needs to be done on the field to defeat a fired up Manu Samoa.
He knows the commitment that’s required to win in Apia.It’s now up to the players to decide how we come out of this clash.Let’s face it. It’s going to be fiery out there.
It’s going to be tough along the trenches, and it’s going to be loaded with enthusiastic defences.
Under such circumstances, a lot will eventually fall back on patience and composure under pressure! You’ll need them to stick to your gameplan!We say go Fiji, go!
