JAKE White became the FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach one week, took the team to Japan the next and flipped the script for a national side initially written off in public discourse and performance months earlier.
The rugby world was taken with surprise when the South African man who has already lifted the Webb Ellis Cup earned the nod of the bigwigs at the Fiji Rugby Union to give him a chance to let his reputation for excellence and discipline grace the wooden halls of Rugby House in Suva.
Tomorrow in France, his second assignment is simple at first glance, but demands the exertion of ferocity and distinct Fijian flair to pull off the Herculean effort of plucking the French rooster’s feathers and sever its jugular.
Fiji has been hard at work in Lyon, France this week in Regulation Nine camps with the intent of ensuring they maintain the profound momentum of their 34-28 victory over Japan last month in the latter’s centenary commemorative Test match.
And when Jake White revealed his match-day 23 to journalists in Fiji and around the world via a Microsoft Teams call in the wee hours of yesterday, the line-up featured an interesting assembly of famous names starting in different positions.
Fiji: Holding its cards close
If the French were expecting to see familiar names such as Caleb Muntz, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and others in their usual positions, they were wrong.
While the forwards pack will retain familiar faces from previous clashes this year, the backline however is an entirely different story.
Vannes player Simione Kuruvoli starts at scrum-half while Fijian Drua star Isikeli Rabitu starts at fly-half, a departure from starting at inside-centre in the clash against Japan recently.
“Fijian Ferrari” Jiuta Wainiqolo of Lyon will start at left wing with French Top 14’s 2025/26 season top try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey starting at number 11 for France.
Vinaya Habosi starts at outside centre which might spell surprise for the French since its usual occupant Josua “The Bus” Tuisova sits this match out while Iosefo Masi takes up post at inside centre.
Racing 92 winger Selestino Ravutaumada slots in at right wing and will work in tandem with Wainiqolo at left wing to be the Flying Fijians’ “Speedy Gonzales” merchants of fast-paced flair to charge through the French defence and convert their rapid momentum into points for Fiji.
Salesi Rayasi is the last man down for Fiji, starting at full-back and charged with the mission of seizing possession if the French seek to expand their reach further into Fijian territory tomorrow.
Head coach White’s forward pack for this match remains largely unchanged from their Test against Japan except for three changes.
These include Eroni Mawi stepping in as loose-head prop, Pita Gus-Sowakula starting at blind-side flanker and Nathan Hughes making his Flying Fijians debut at number eight.
Experience, calm and clarity in the face of pressure make up the bomb squad on the bench with Ben Volavola and Frank Lomani expected to earn their 50th caps and further solidify the backline defence.
Inoke Ravuiwasa, Zuriel Togiatama, Peceli Yato and Peni Ravai will complement the forwards while Volavola, Lomani and Sireli Maqala amplify the backline.
France: Tested, approved and trusted
The French squad comes packed with hard-hitters such as captain Antoine Dupont who will partner with Romain Ntamack.
This marks the first match where they pair up since March last year and head coach Fabien Galthie says their collective experience will prove vital.
“They are two top players who have won a lot with our team since 2020,” Galthie said.
“Collective experience is important at this level and they have that, even though they haven’t played much recently for France.”
Their forward pack sees strength and force charging through the likes of Jean Baptiste-Gros, Maxime Lamothe, Sipili Falatea, Florian Verhaeghe, Cameron Woki, Mickaël Guillard with backs such as Bielle-Biarray, Yoram Moefana, Kalvin Gourgues and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang.
And coach Galthie has applauded Fiji for what he calls “exceptional individual talent.”
“First and foremost, the Fijians have exceptional individual talent,” Galthie said.
“We see it every weekend in our championship with their ability to surprise and be unpredictable.
“They love one-on-one duels, they’re powerful, they’re skillful … they’re often the best players in their team, or the best finishers.”
The real test for who will emerge as the best finishers will unfold when their clash kicks off at 8.10am tomorrow.
‘Smal’ yet grand improvements
Defence coach Gert Smal’s contributions to the Flying Fijians recently has reaped abundant returns in the short span of time he had spent with the team in Japan.
In their Test against the Japanese, Fiji only conceded three penalties which indicated the smallest amount ever conceded by Fiji in recent memory.
And an instrumental part of that wheel turning favourably stems from Smal’s work in mitigating weaknesses observed in their set-pieces even when Fiji faced a huge loss with the disciplinary action imposed on Motikiai Murray after he was shown a red card in that match.
A call to action
White’s clear-headed direction and trademark attention to discipline has significantly revamped the team’s spirits and the culture of success that may have waned during the first leg of the Nations Championship this year.
As he took hold of the reins after predecessor and interim coach Senirusi Seruvakula stepped off the mantle, the squad now moves in tandem to face France in a rhythm made up of passion, a commitment to success and the unwavering Fijian spirit and rugby flair that the men of the noble banner blue are world renowned for.
