FIJI Water Flying Fijians coach Jake White is prepared to think outside the box, handing sevens specialist Terio Tamani an opportunity at halfback as he begins shaping his side for Saturday’s Test against Japan.
White’s selection of Tamani at No. 9 reflects his willingness to explore different combinations while assessing the depth of talent available to Fiji.
“The exciting thing is Terio at nine, a great sevens player, and I’m going to give him a chance to see how he fits in,” White said.
The coach acknowledged that his selection decisions had been guided by assistant coaches and those familiar with the local rugby system, admitting he had not yet had enough time to assess every player in the country.
Tamani’s opportunity will also provide a comparison with experienced halfback Frank Lemoine, whom White identified as an established option after playing considerable Test rugby.
“We all know what Frank Lomani can do, and he’s played a lot of Test rugby and he’s been probably the incumbent nine,” White said.
“So just using him as an example, it gives me an opportunity to have a look at different combinations.”
White also highlighted loose forward Apo, who is coming from Counties Manukau, as another player whose inclusion would help him assess how combinations work together.
The coach said Saturday’s Test would be an important assessment of whether the locally based players could make the step up to international rugby.
With the Super Rugby campaign offering further opportunities to monitor development, White has made it clear that the challenge begins against Japan, where Tamani and his team-mates must turn opportunity into performance.
