No so long ago, it would have been a troublesome task to identify three or more Fijians as genuine “ones to watch” in a clash against a tier one rugby nation. Of course, Fiji has produced many rare gems over the years, the likes of Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Waisele Serevi, Vilimoni Delasau, and that man Severo Koroduadua – he of the thunderous boot at the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup – to name just a few. (And we’re only talking about the Fiji team here: the list of Fijian players to have played for the Wallabies and All Blacks is long and illustrious.)
Nowadays, though, the difficulty is in confining the list of Fijian opposition teams should be wary of to just five. One could easily rattle off 10. Indeed, Fiji’s 2015 team is by far the most professional outfit the island nation has ever produced. Their players ply their trade all over the world and they’re every bit as professional as their tier one counterparts. And in John McKee, the Fijians finally have a coach who has managed to harness brilliant individual talents into a well-structured collective now capable of pushing England off its own scrum – at Twickenham, no less – and winning 11 turnovers while conceding just four. We haven’t seen a Fiji team like this before. And the Wallabies, who need a four-try bonus point to keep abreast of fellow Pool A quarter-final aspirants England and Wales, have good cause for concern.
Nemani Nadolo (wing)
The 130kg, 6ft 4in winger is Fiji’s spiritual leader, the heartbeat of the side. He is to Fiji what Richie McCaw is to the All Blacks. Like McCaw, he’s the team barometer, the man players look to for reassurance during a game’s inevitable momentum shifts. And quite often it’s Nadolo who’s the game-changer with his big hits, bullocking runs and superb aerial skills in contesting cross kicks close to the line. Nadolo plays for the Crusaders so running through and around Australian players is nothing new to him. He topped the 2015 Super Rugby try-scoring chart. The Wallabies know exactly what Nadolo will bring but stopping him is an entirely different matter.
Campese Ma’afu (loosehead prop)
Wonderfully named considering the opposition, Australia-raised loosehead prop Campese Ma’afu is the younger brother of former Wallabies front-rower Salesi Ma’afu. The France-based younger Ma’afu finally came of age as a Test prop against England, working over tight head Dan Cole repeatedly. Indeed, England lost three of their own scrums against the Fijian front row of Ma’afu, Sunia Koto and Manasa Saulo. Koto has been benched – probably for a careless line-out throw resulting in a try to Mike Brown – in favour of Southland’s Talemaitoga Tuapati who was good enough to pick up a medical joker contract with Stade Francais earlier in the year. The Fijian front row will test Australia’s claims of improved scrummaging, and none more so than Ma’afu who should relish the challenge against Wallabies tighthead Sekope Kepu.
Leone Nakarawa (lock)
A former Fiji Army soldier, Glasgow Warrior’s Nakarawa is outrageously talented with ball in hand. He topped the off-load stats against England with eight, but it was his punishing defence and pilfering against England that stood out. He was the game’s top poacher with four, and was fourth in tackles made. Nakarawa is Fiji’s version of All Black lock Brodie Retallick – a tireless workhorse who can play the full 80 minutes. The big Fijian’s off-loading game – he had the most offloads in the 2014-15 European Rugby Champions Cup – could hurt the Wallabies if the Fijians decide to go Japan-style.
Akapusi Qera (openside flanker, captain)
Qera, a Fiji sportsman of the year runner-up to golfer Vijay Singh, rarely comes second on the rugby pitch. British rugby followers would know him well from his time at Gloucester. Now with Montpellier, Qera’s star continues to shine as a world class flanker, equally adept as eighth man. Indeed, David Pocock and Michael Hooper won’t have it all their own way at the breakdown.
Nikola Matuwalu (half-back)
The Bath-bound half-back proved just how good he is with an electrifying run and near-score against England. Admittedly, with a yellow card he had a mixed night. But Matuwalu showed enough speed off the mark to suggest the Wallabies would need to keep very close tabs on him, especially around the fringes of rucks. He scored nine tries in 22 appearances for Glasgow Warriors in the 2012-13 season so finding his way across the chalk isn’t a worry.
