In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, interim Flying Fijians head coach Gareth Baber said the learnings from playing against Wales made the team better and needed to put it together against Georgia this weekend.
“One of the big things in Wales was to recognise the intensity of playing a Tier One, top 10 team and I think we matched that and we’re better for it,” Baber said.
“And the reality we have to put that together against Georgia and ensure that movement towards the RWC is happening in the right way.”
Our boys flew to Madrid in preparation for the match against ‘The Lelos’ at the 5000 capacity Estadio El Deleite Stadium in Aranjuez. Fiji and Georgia lost to Six Nations giants Wales and France 38-23 and 41-15, respectively.
While Fiji fought bravely against the Dragons at the Principality Stadium and led for most phases, Georgia lost to France 15-41 in Bordeaux in a one-sided affair which would also put ‘The Lelos’ in the frame for a tough clash against the Flying Fijians.
Baber had this to say about Georgia, “Obviously Georgia played against France so they got the same turnaround as us, but ultimately we got to focus on doing another job and it doesn’t go away, it doesn’t get any easier because you have to put in a performance. To a degree, we know we got to go against Georgia we got to keep people on the field and we got put pressure in the game to get results.”
Fiji must beat Georgia in order to keep the momentum going, heading to the 2020 rugby season.
In this article, I take readers down memory lane to December 2020 when Fiji met Georgia for seventh and eighth place in the Autumn Nations Cup as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the Flying Fijians Northern Hemisphere tour.
Since our players tested positive for COVID-19, the much-anticipated battles against France, Italy and Scotland were called off and the opposition awarded match points.
This had a psychological impact on the team and fans. We had appointed Vern Cotter and fans were looking forward to his magic against the Six Nations giants.
We lost three straight matches without a sweat, and our boys finished last in their group.
Thus, the Flying Fijians were scheduled to meet Georgia for seventh spot. Georgia, despite three losses, had tasted top level rugby and tested their combination.
Fiji and Georgia had played each other four times prior to last year’s battle, and Fiji had won three of those four battles, the last being the 45-10 win in Japan in 2019 at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium during the RWC.
Fiji first played Georgia in 2012 at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, and Fiji won 24-19.
In 2016, at the ANZ Stadium, Georgia upset Fiji 14-3, but in 2018, at the same venue, Fiji thrashed Georgia 37-15. Cotter named nine debutants; Johnny Dyer, towering 7s forward Mesulame Kunavula, Temo Mayanavanua, Suva’s Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hetet, who is the son of former Flying Fijians Joe Veitayaki, Naitasiri’s Samuela Tawake and Chris Minimbi, Tailevu’s Simione Kuruvoli and Nadro sensation Manueli Ratuniyarawa alongside Peni Ravai, Samuela Matavesi, Mesake Doge, Tevita Ratuva, Albert Tuisue, Frank Lomani, Ben Volavola, Nemani Nadolo, Levani Botia, Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, Kini Murimurivalu, Waisea Nayacalevu and Seru Vularika.
It was a good mix, and rugby pundits had banked on Fiji to beat ‘The Lelos’.
In their past six matches, ‘The Lelos’ lost to Ireland (23-10), Wales (18-0), England (40-0), Scotland (48-7), but they beat Portugal (39-24) and Belgium (78-6).
The Flying Fijians beat the Barbarians (33-31), lost to Wales (29-17), beat Georgia (45-10), lost to Uruguay (30-27) and Australia (39-21), but beat the Les Bleus (21-14).
Our sports journalist Waisale Koroiwasa penned an article titled ‘Stronger than COVID-19′ in the Sunday Times (06/12/2020). He shared that the Test was Cotter’s first match in charge of the Flying Fijians, and that our previous three Test matches on tour were hindered as a result of the pandemic.
He also stated that our boys stayed in isolation, and that it had brought a strong bonding among the players. After the pool matches against France, Italy and Scotland was called off because of the Pacific Islanders’ being hit with COVID-19 and being in quarantine, Cotter said they were fortunate to be playing their final match of the tournament.
“What we have lived through is difficult and in these kinds of situations people grow and become better individuals and they have time to think and reflect. I think we have been able to do that as individuals and also as a team. We are stronger, we missed 10 days but when we look at each other now, you can see the message passing in everybody’s eyes that we have been through something difficult and the health of our players was paramount from the start.
“I think we need to recognise that this hasn’t been easy for the players and if they get out on the field to play this weekend, it’s an achievement just in itself.”
‘The Lelos’ were ‘nilled’ in their opening two matches against England (40-0) and Wales (18-0), but gave an improved performance despite losing to Ireland. Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili named the likes of Soso Matiashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze, Sandro Todua, Tedo Abzhandadze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Lasha Jaiani, Kote Mikautadze, Otar Giorgadze, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalaghonia, Jaba Bregvadze, Guram Gogichashvili, Giorgi Melikidze, Grigol Kerdikoshvili, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Gela Aprasidze, Demur Tapladze and Davit Niniashvili.
The flamboyant Fijians turned on the style as a Nemani Nadolo hat-trick sealed a victory over Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup.
The Leicester wing came out of international retirement with a hat-trick to show a glimpse of what the Pacific Islanders could have been capable of in the Autumn Nations Cup.
Fiji took out the pent-up frustration of missing matches on ‘The Lelos’ as wing Tuisova, and fl ankers Johnny Dyer and Kunavula, scored in a six-try romp.
Georgia’s woeful form in the competition continued, but they managed to apply some forward muscle for a try by replacement prop Giorgi Melikidze and two late consolation efforts from flanker Beka Saginadze.
Otherwise, ‘The Lelos’ lacked the quality to break Fiji down. Georgia suffered a fourthstraight defeat to finish the tournament in eighth, while Fiji clinched seventh spot. It was not the ending we wanted, but the benchmark was set by Cotter and the boys as they beat Georgia 38-24.
The Flying Fijians brought their signature flair and panache to the party as they made their debut, and the win against Georgia at Murrayfield gave fans something to cheer for.
- RAJNESH LINGAM is a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaper
