Fresh legs and hungry to dominate the order at Hartpury
New combinations will be tested as the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians seek to assert dominance over Pool D rivals Uruguay in the second test of the November Internatioal Series this Sunday in Gloucestershire, England.
Head Coach John McKee has included six new names into the starting XV for Sunday’s match including the debut cap for Perpignan winger and Fiji 7s convert Eroni Sau who will start at 11 alongside the dynamic duo of Jale Vatabua (12) and Vereniki Goneva (13.)
Fiji Airways Drua enforcer Albert Tuisue earns his first start in the white jersey alongside Leone Nakarawa in the second row, with fellow Drua team mate Mesulame Dolokoto getting the nod in the Hooker position, and the rest of the Drua contingent (Voka, Vugakoto, Veitokani, Mawi and Lomani) all set to impact off the bench.
Uruguay have played two warm up matches against Cardiff Blues and Ulster prior to this test and the Fijian camp know they need to tidy up their act if they want the victory at Hartpury College.
“Defence & discipline will be a focus for this match. Uruguay will look to test us through the driving maul, so effective maul defence without conceding penalties will be vital”
“We expect they will look to play when they have the ball so we will need to work hard in our defensive system to deny them opportunities to score.”
“Discipline will be vital. Although our penalty count was low last week critical penalties conceded allowed the opposition to dominate field position and put us under pressure. 2 yellow cards was 2 too many.”
With just three matches in the short November window to explore combinations, the Fijian Head Coach is laying the gauntlet down to his side to use their opportunities.
“The short team preparation time for the November Tour is very challenging and I can see from the extra week we’ve had together the players clarity around their role in our game plan has improved and those vital playing combinations across the team are building well.”
“This test match against Uruguay takes on added importance with just under 12 months to go before we meet them in our Pool D match at Kamaishi in RWC 2019. It is very important that we put in a top performance on Saturday to set a marker for 2019”
Fiji Airways Flying Fijians to face Urugay
Saturday 17th November – 1.00pm kick off UK
(Sunday 18th November, 2.00am FJT)
Hartpury RFC,
Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Gloucestershire
- Campese Maafu
- Mesulame Dolokoto
- Manasa Saulo
- Albert Tuisue
- Leone Nakarawa
- Dominiko Waqaniburotu ©
- Semi Kunatani
- Peceli Yato
- Henry Seniloli
- Ben Volavolva
- Eroni Sau
- Jale Vatabua
- Vereniki Goneva
- Josua Tuisova
- Metuisela Talebula
RESERVES
- Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto
- Eroni Mawi
- Kalivati Tawake
- Tevita Cavubati
- Mosese Voka
- Frank Lomani
- Alivereti Veitokani
- Eroni Vasiteri