One of the country’s most feared openside flankers Ilami Lutumailagi has called on the Nadi rugby players to play to the final whistle in tomorrow’s HFC Bank Farebrother Trophy challenge.

“It is going to be a do-or-die battle when playing Nadroga,” he told SUNsports yesterday.

The legendary Flying Fijian forward did not mince his words when he warned the Nadi players that they must be strong to absorb everything that is dished out at them by the champion Nadroga team.

“The most heated Farebrother Trophy challenge in the past has always been between Nadroga and Nadi.

“Although we have close traditional links but when it comes to the Farebrother everything is left aside.”

Lutumailagi said Nadroga has been keeping the Farebrother Trophy for so long because other teams have failed to prepare themselves for it.

“For the Nadi team they should not take the game to the Nadroga side as they have experienced players and the sizes as well.

“What they should do is to make them run for the ball, and they should play the game on the Nadroga’s 22-metre line.”

The stalwart flanker said the Nadroga team have the size and the runners to run the ball.

“The Nadi team needs to open up the game and they should make them run for the ball whenever it is Nadi’s ball.

“We know Nadroga is the defending champions.

“But if they handle Nadi lightly on Saturday, it will be different story altogether because even though they may be young, the heart and the determination to win will be the decider on Saturday’s game.”

Lutumailagi played for Nadi from 1979 to 1982. He made his Test debut for Fiji in their 13-9 loss to the France XV in 1979 at the Buckhurst Park, Suva. His last Test match was in the 39-4 victory over Tonga.

He vividly remembers in 1979 when Nadi won the coveted trophy where they played against the likes of Nadroga greats of Wame Gavidi, Rupeni Qaraniqio and Aminiasi Natuiyaga Snr.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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