Tomorrow morning the Flying Fijians will face Spain in Madrid.
I would have loved the Flying Fijians to play worthy opponents during their autumn tour.
Tonga, for instance, has played Scotland and the Ikale Tahi will be playing England this weekend, while Fiji will rub shoulders against Spain, Wales and Georgia whom we have already played against last year.
Fiji was scheduled to play France, Italy and Scotland last year, but the Tests were called off due to our boys testing COVID-19 positive. The opposition was given points without any sweat.
Had World Rugby been fair, they should have considered having a rematch against France, Italy and Scotland.
We are barely two years from the 2023 RWC 15s tournament, and it is important that the Flying Fijians are exposed to quality opposition in a bid to buildup strong and formidable combination so that we could make it from the pool to the quarters.
The last time Fiji made it from the pool to the quarters was way back in 2007 where we ended up meeting the Springboks who went on to lift the prestigious Webb Ellis Trophy.
Yesterday’s The Fiji Times front page read, ‘Spain Test hype builds’, and I hope Spain will give our boys a contest worth talking about.
The Spain national rugby union team, nicknamed Los Leones (The Lions), annually takes part in the European Nations Cup, the highest European rugby championship outside the Six Nations.
While the Flying Fijians are ranked 11th in the world, Spain is ranked 20th. Spain’s greatest moment of success in 15s rugby came in 1999, when they qualified for the 1999 RWC.
Despite being whitewashed, the team performed admirably in a group which included South Africa and Scotland.
Today, Spain competes in the European Nations Cup against Georgia, Germany, Portugal, Romania, and Russia.
Spain has never been crowned European champions, though has come close.
The closest they’ve come to becoming European champions was in 2012, having beaten Romania and Georgia and finishing second.
Notable players, who have donned Spain’s jumper, include Alberto Malo, Francisco Puertas Soto, Cesar Sempere, Pablo Feijoo, Oriol Ripol, Esteban Roque Segovia, Diego Zarzosa and Cedric Garcia.
Coached by Santiago Santos, Spain has players in the likes of Pablo Miejimolle, Santiago Ovejero, Bittor Aboitiz, Andres Alvarado, Alberto Blanco, Thierry Futeu, Kawa Leauma, Fernando Lopez, who is the skipper, Anibal Bonan, Manuel Mora, Victor Sanchez, Facundo Dominguez, Brice Ferrer, Matthew Foulds, Kalokalo Gavidi, Michael Hogg, Guillermo Moreton, Afaese Tauli, Kerman Aurrekoetxea, Facundo Munilla, Bautista Guemes, Daniel Barranco, Javier Carrion, Alvar Gimeno, Richard Stewart, Jerry Davoibaravi, Jordi Jorba, Joan Losada, Gauthier Minguillon, Federico Casteglioni and Pablo Ortiz.
Hence, it will be interesting to note how Spain will front the explosive Flying Fijians unit. Speaking to Rugby Pass, Gareth Baber shared,
“The expectation for the Flying Fijians is that as a coaching staff we honour what Vern and his staff put together.
“I will speak regularly with Vern but he is conscious we have to get on with it and Tests come along very quickly with a lot of information that needs to be absorbed.
We are going to have to build an environment very quickly to deliver in those three matches.”
Baber has included 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games gold medallists Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu in the run-on side.
Baber has played an integral role in grooming the likes of Tuimaba, Wainiqolo and Botitu.
He has also named an experienced forward pack in an exciting and physical battle upfront against Spain, roping in the likes of Eroni Mawi, Sam Matavesi, Mesake Doge, Tevita Ratuva, Temo MayanavMayanavanua, Leone Nakarawa, Mesulame Kunavula and Albert Tuisue.
According to Baber, “The strength that we have is physical ball carriers, players who are going to gain line for us and big men who could win lineouts and create pressure in the game for the opposition.”
In the back, Nikola Matawalu will combine together with Ben Volavola, while Tuimaba and Wainiqolo will provide speed on the wings.
Captain Waisea Nayacalevu and Vilimoni Botitu will control the match in the midfield, while Setareki Tuicuvu will guide the team from the back.
Henry Spring, Peni Ravai, Leeroy Atalifo, Api Ratuniyarawa, Viliame Mata, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Josua Tuisova and Eroni Sau are set to spark things, coming off the bench.
The Test against Spain will be an exciting time for the players who will be vying for a spot in the Flying Fijians team for the 2023 RWC tournament.
The Flying Fijians will face Spain tomorrow morning at Estadio Central UC, Madrid and I wish our boys all the best for the Test!
RAJNESH LINGAM is a regular contributor to this newspaper and the views expressed in this article are his and not of The Fiji Times.
