Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui is not being carried away by the potential of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final spot and is instead putting all his focus on Portugal first.
He knows a win against the Os Lobos must be achieved first at any cost.
They will play in Toulouse on Monday, October 9 at 7am. Yesterday, Australia, the other team in the running for a last-eight spot from pool C with Fiji, beat Portugal 34-14 yesterday to give themselves a slim hope.
Raiwalui will be under no illusion the Portuguese will be a pushover after they put together some neat passing rushes, outmauled the Wallabies at time, and always played to score tries.
“I am really just worried about Portugal coming up, we have to take care of business,” Raiwalui said after his team’s narrow 17-12 come-from-behind win against Georgia on Sunday. ”
Prepare well and put on a performance.
If we look too far beyond that we are going to slip over.”
With Wales already confirming its place in the quarter-finals from pool C, Fiji needs only a bonus point against Portugal to progress further, ending Australia’s campaign.
A possible matchup against England is on the cards in the knockout stages.
Scrumhalf Frank Lomani, who ignited Fiji’s game against Georgia in the second half, said they were not taking Portugal lightly. ”
That is history (their win at Twickenham against England). England are a better side, for us we are just worrying about our team.
We don’t worry about outside noise, we just focus on every game as a final” Lomani said.
“Even if we play England in a quarter-final, we are just going to play how we play.”
