Published in The Fiji Times on Friday June 27, 2008.
FIJI flanker Aca Ratuva will be given time to prove his fitness before coach Ilivasi Tabua names his team today for the Pacific Nations Cup match against Australia A in Ballymore on Sunday.
The Yadua villager from Nadroga has an infected knee and Tabua wants to give his number one open side flanker enough time to recover.
Should he fail to pass the test, fellow Nadroga loose forward Sailosi Raboniqica will get the nod for his first ever start. Raboniqica, who debuted for in the Fiji colors during the last leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, came off the bench last weekend in the 24-12 win over Japan in Tokyo.
Tabua said he wouldn’t want anything less than a 100 percent fit player on the field against the Aussies.
“We will decide on Aca before I name my team, Tabua said. “It looks likely that Sailosi will don the number 7 jersey, time will tell.”
Tabua doesn’t want to tinker too much with his back rowers and knows they will hold the key against the inform Australians.
Deryck Thomas is another option which Tabua has but this would mean shifting number eight Netani Talei to the side of the scrum.
This is an idea which Tabua does not find too flash as his aim is to maintain players in the position they were doing in.
“Netani has been playing well at number eight, and it won’t be a good idea to shift him,” he said.
“It’s about what is the ideal position for the player.”
Rabonigica has earned a lot of praise from Tabua for his recent performances for the Sharks in the Colonial Cup and the Digicel-sponsored Fiji sevens team.
“Rabo is a very hard-working player, on and off the ball and he should fit in well as he has shown,” Tabua said.
The team had a rest day yesterday to freshen up mentally to the match continued.
“It will be a match against a well prepared and professional side,” Tanya said.
