Warriors is what Soctland rugby head coach Gregor Townsend has used to describe Fijian rugby players, ahead of their July 12 Test match against the FIJI Water Flying Fijians.
Speaking to Scotland Rugby, he made the description when speaking of how Fijian rugby players plying their trade in Scottish rugby teams were like on the field.
“We’ve had a lot of Fijians that played in Scotland, but when they go in the field, they want to win; they’re warriors,” Townsend remarked.
“And we’ve taken on three warrior cultures; the Maori, and Fiji and Samoa.”
With a rugged quality attributed to the three teams, especially Fiji, it has given the Scots a preview of what to expect.
“And that physical test is something that we will have to stand up to and thrive in and I feel we’ll add even more to our game, this experience in the summer,” he added.
As the Test between Fiji and Scotland is slated for next month, he also spoke of the dynamic rugby culture unique to Fiji, drawing similarities to the devout football following in Brazil.
“When you go there and you’re driving from the airport to the hotel, and you’re seeing people playing rugby and that might be five-a-side, 20-a-side on fields that are definitely not as smooth and flat as the rugby pitches in Scotland,” he recalled.
“And then when you go and experience a game in Fiji, the crowd is like no other. They love the game; they love big moments in the game.”
Fiji will meet the Scots a week after their first Test against the Wallabies on July 6, at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia.
