The buzz has been around the British and Irish Lions tour in Australia and when I sat to write this piece, the Lions had already belted the Force in Perth and the Reds in Brisbane, scoring more than half a century and showing they are hot contenders when the three-test series starts later this month.
For the Wallabies, their focus is on Fiji, not the Lions.
The Fijians started gathering in Newcastle towards the end of last week and they have a decent group in camp looking forward to a titanic clash against the Wallabies.
A lot of people are talking about the 2023 World Cup, and the wounds of that day are still sore for the Aussies.
Fiji stunned Australia 22- 15 in Saint-Etienne in France.
Tremors from that loss in France shook Australian rugby to its foundations, which resulted in the earliest tournament elimination in the group stage.
There is a great documentary on Netflix about the Wallabies on how they prepared and their journey at the World Cup, and it captured and displayed the pain of the RWC exit well, with some great sound bites featuring the controversial then coach, Eddie Jones.
Fiji has been elevated to Tier 1 status this year but as I watched that Australia v Fiji match in 2023 in my hotel room in Tahiti, it felt that the gulf between Tier 1 and 2 nations, particularly when it comes to the Pacific Island powerhouses, has all but closed.
In that 2023 match, Fiji outthought, out-muscled and, most importantly, out-fought the Wallabies.
I just hope the Flying Fijians can bring the same intensity and play passionately in Newcastle.
There were tough lessons learnt in France by the Wallabies but Fiji will be looking to bring those demons back to play today.
Here’s a fantastic opportunity to put a dent in the much-hyped Lions series.
A Flying Fijians win will overshadow international rugby and will further hurt the pride of the Wallabies. I’d think for the Wallabies to consider giving a second thought to the Lions this weekend would be a catastrophic mistake.
Fiji needs, and deserves, the Wallabies’ undivided attention.
The Mick Byrne-coached Fijians are in Newcastle with a squad brimming with ability, a high-intensity blend of seasoned European professionals and the exciting, free-running urgency of their Super Rugby Pacific
talent from the Fijian Drua.
Burly Eroni Mawi upfront, with the strength and experience in the engine room of Isoa Nasilasila, the destructive horsepower capacity of Josua Tuisova in the centres supplemented by the thrilling tempo and shifty running of Jiuta Wainiqolo, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Salesi Rayasi on debut, is a line-up looking redhot for this Test.
The fact that there are so many Drua boys who have consistently punched above their weight in this season’s Super Rugby Pacific is a deep understanding of each other’s game.
Fiji’s off-loading game, their breakdown physicality and their ability to turn any possession into a try-scoring opportunity make them arguably one of the world’s most dangerous sides on the loose.
The weather forecast on Google search for Newcastle revealed chilly and potentially wet conditions, with showers likely through the day.
This will tend to play more in favour of a more structured, back-dominated game in the classical sense, but
can deter Fiji’s ability to play an expansive style of rugby.
There are bound to be handling errors but it could also allow its pacey backs to create space on the silky surface.
For the Flying Fijians, contesting the breakdown and winning collision battles will be important, as will the kicking and setpiece for accuracy in what could be a greasy contest.
The Fijians have two test matches before the Pacific Nations Cup, which they’ll defend.
Once they get past world eighth ranked Australia, they fly home and prepare to face world seventh ranked Scotland in Suva.
Two big Test matches with Tier 1 sides require a lot of character from the players.
Our side will need to meet the Wallabies and Scotland on back-to-back weekends with physicality, ferocity and impose a game plan to counter the brand of opposition.
That sounds like a big ask, right? It requires ruthless brutality, the memories and hard work from the PNC victory and the win over Wales last year translated into this year’s mid-year internationals.
We need our players to have a straight-out commitment to the mission.
And let me say this – the Wallabies will be looking for redemption, and a gold jersey-worth performance in Newcastle, and they’ll be out to bury the ghost of Saint Etienne and the RWC exit in Newcastle.
- SATISH NARAIN is a regular contributor to this newspaper and the views expressed in this article are his and not necessarily of The Fiji Times.
