Exposing upcoming players to high level of competition in Barbarian clash

Fiji Airways Flying Fijians first test match against the Barbarians after the Rugby World Cup is also an opportunity to test our young talented players into the international atmosphere.

Almost three quarter of the squad are all local based that made up the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua squad in the National Rugby Championship last month, and a few from New Zealand Provincial clubs.

Eroni Mawi, Frank Lomani, Veremalua Vugakoto and Mosese Voka are the only RWC players who’ll be part of the team as the rest of our RWC players have return to their clubs.

The battle for the Killik Cup at Twickenham will test our upcoming players to the peak of their performance as they’ll be playing amongst some of the best in the sport including three players from RWC winning Springboks team Tendai Mtawarira, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi.

Retiring Ireland hooker Rory Best, Scotland’s Josh Strauss, French centre Mathieu Bastareud and Fiji’s tight head prop Campese Ma’afu will also play for the Baabas, which makes it an experience side going up against a young talented team.

Flying Fijians halfback Frank Lomani explained how this match will be effective for the players saying that it’s an opportunity to be exposed to high level of competition.

“Its good that we have our boys from Drua to be part of this team and to experience high intense game at another level where we’ll develop from.”

Lomani added that they are expecting fast play and running game which is what they’ve been focusing on going into this match.

“We know what they’ll bring, this is going to be a fast pace game, they will run this game at a fast pace and we will have to keep up at this pace, we will try and counter their pace and play our style of rugby.”

Lomani highlighted that the main focus is on their play and executing it on the field, also on the Fijian style of chaotic play which might be an entertaining spectacle to this game.

“They have some World Cup winners in their squad, It just what we’re known for, fast pace and running game with offloads.”

The two teams last met in November 2016 where the Barbarians beat Fiji 40-7 at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

The two teams will battle out the Killik Cup on Saturday 16 November in the only Autumn International of 2019 to be played at Twickenham.