Fijian rugby on display

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Fiji Airways Flying Fijians centre Levani Botia offloads to Leeroy Atalifo during their RWC pool match against Uruguay at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Japan . Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

FANS of Fijian rugby all over the world still regard us as the best entertainers in the oval ball game and they never seem to tire from watching our boys play.

That alone is an honour and should be appreciated by local fans, still disillusioned by our Rugby World Cup performance in Japan.

The unorthodox style of play, creativity in creating gaps through the seemingly impregnable defence and brilliance eventuating from structured play are sources of excitement of the Fijian rugby flair.

Unfortunately, the RWC of 2019 still carried the hangovers from past generations of orthodox, cold, no risk rugby.

The semi-final clash between Wales and South Africa was the worst version of rugby entertainment and was so boring. And if it was amateur boxing the referee would have shouted “Stop Boxing”.

In this case it would have been “Stop Rugby.” He should call the two captains together including the coaches and warn them:

“This is neither football that you should kick more than you run and pass and nor is it a lottery that you depend on the mistake of your opposition to score points. This is your last warning, come…on start playing rugby.”

Anyway, William Webb Ellis picked up a football and started running with it to invent rugby. Match that game against all four Fiji matches and we still scored A plus in entertainment, win or loss.

The Barbarian-Fiji match was organised before the RWC in Japan and World Rugby knew that the professional players would have returned to their clubs.

It is indeed a small world because they know of the potential of our Drua players and how they can turn it on when in their devastating mood.

Fijian rugby is addictive and like an elixir of life, one does not seem to get enough of.

So tomorrow morning’s match against the Barbarians at Twickenham, would be similar to a washdown of all the boring RWC matches, to kick off a three-match tour and refocus or set the vision of how rugby should be played.

Ironically, the third match will be against Wales with Warren Gatland coaching the Barbarians against his replacement former Fiji coach Wayne Pivac.

For that reason we should be grateful to World Rugby and we ourselves should continue to feel proud to be associated with such a unique and noble gift.

Many law changes in rugby have been made to promote expansive, running rugby the Fijian way.

This has proved successful but the introduction of the video refereeing seems to have nullified this and killed the pace.

The whole RWC refereeing performance was questionable and the referees were as confused as everybody else.

While they were trying their best to heed the advice of World Rugby, made after the first round of matches, the video referees were making it difficult with some of their calls.

The game tonight is solely focused on running rugby, a tradition of Barbarians rugby.

Fiji led by Nadi’s Sela Toga beat the British Barbarians 29-9 at Gosford in 1970.

Flying Fijian coach John McKee will be assisted by successful Drua coach Senirusi Seruvakula and their combination will be under the microscope.

If they spark then it could lay the foundation for the 2023 RWC buildup campaign.

Asaeli Tikoirotuma will provide the experience at midfield while his teammates have youth and speed.

The kicking boots of Enele Malele and other talents of new players will be displayed to impress club scouts.

The fast and furious style of play by the Drua could be hampered by the 8C and slight drizzle forecasted by the weatherman.

The 1970 team faced the same conditions but players had a nip of rum each to keep warm before running on, according to the skipper in a newspaper interview.

However, if the ball sticks to the hand during passing they should produce the fireworks to warm up the wild, roaring 50,000 fans at Twickenham.

 

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