Flying Fijians lock forward Leone Nakarawa and Rugby Club Toulonnais’s latest signing is expected to get his first run on against Stade Francais in their Top 14 clash tomorrow with coach Patrice Collazo, heralding the veteran to provide answers.
Headed to round three with no win, and hindered by injuries in the second row, Collazo is looking to see big things from Nakarawa.
“He will provide solutions,” Collazo told the club’s blog.
‘These are players who understand systems very quickly because they are drawn to some form of rugby and when we are drawn to that, we understand it.”
Collazo’s second row starters in France’s Swan Rebbadj is still in recovery and South African giant Eben Etzebeth should be available in time for selection.
Collazo said in training he had seen Nakarawa bring to life the type of play and flair he was known and feared for.
“I saw the player I saw in Racing again, one-handed balls and he runs as fast as a three-quarter.”
Meanwhile, Olympics gold medallist and winger Jiuta Wainiqolo could not do enough in last weekend’s tough 41-10 loss to champion Toulouse with Collazo not ruling out the young speed merchant just yet.
“You have to get the ball to him, when he has the ball he’s capable of doing interesting things.”
“Having players like him is good, but you need a team around them.”
Collazo will name his run on side against Stade Francais today. Flying Fijians Josua Tuisova also played for Toulon.
