THE Fiji Airways Flying Fijians team against Tonga next weekend will be vital for the Fijian boys as head coach John McKee tests his combination for their first Rugby World Cup pool match against Australia next month.
McKee has been trying out various combinations during the New Zealand Maori Test matches and the Pacific Nations Cup but his final tests before the Rugby World Cup will be against the sixth-ranked team in the world.
McKee said his focus was on Australia and the match against Tonga was important to them.
“Our focus is taking on Australia but I will need to try my combination against Tonga and see my first lineup against the Wallabies,” said McKee.
“The match against Tonga plays an important role in building our combination but at the same time I will be aware about injuries and that it doesn’t affect our preparation towards the world cup, especially against the Wallabies.”
The players will take the weekend off before they depart for New Zealand next week to face Tonga in their final Test match.
Fiji takes on Tonga next Saturday and faces Australia in their first pool games of the Rugby World Cup on September 21, in Tokyo, Japan.