‘All In The Mind’
The key word in Super Rugby is to be mentally strong according to ex-Super 12 winger from Namotomoto, Nadi in the province of Ba, Iliesa Samusamuvodre Tanivula.
The former Brumbies (one season), Auckland Blues (one season) and Otago Highlanders (four seasons) rep was the second Fijian winger to break into the highly rated Super Rugby arena 30 years ago.
The first was Nasaucoko, Namataku (Nadroga) born and late blockbuster Joeli Vidiri.
“There is so much learning from this Super Rugby season which the Fijian Drua players have drawn from; unless they are mentally strong they can keep coming back at it,” ex-All Blacks sevens rep Tanivula said from Nadi yesterday.
“Super Rugby is another level– your mentality must be strong to face the opposition week in and week out. The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua are playing well, their performances speak volumes of their progress, the stats have so many positives stacked against them and this is great for them in their Super Rugby debut.”
The former Fijian Warriors coach was the 1993 blue ribbon champion during the Coca-Cola Games under the Natabua High School flag, who has had a colourful coaching record under his belt both in provincial and national level.
Tanivula had coached the Nadi rugby team in 2008 creating history by winning the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy as well as the Provincial Cup.
He also guided the Western Crusaders (franchise) team which won the Colonial Cup. In early 2009, he guided the Warriors to win the 2009 Pacific Rugby Cup where they defeated Upolu Samoa in the final.
Looking back on how he started with Super 12, Tanivula admitted the journey was tougher.
“As a 19-year old back then everything was new, the environment, weather and pace. The three of us (Timoci Bolakoro and Ilaisa Gonebure) got to meet the first Fijian after four months. Money was used for phone calls back home and winter was cruel to us,” he said.
“Our clubs arranged work for us which we worked for eight hours before we went for training. It was a lot of adjusting in a new environment starting with the age-group rugby, to provincial (Super Rugby) then All Blacks sevens, unlike these Drua players straight into Super Rugby with your fellow countrymen. With their (Drua) sterling debut they should suck in as much as they can to progress as a better team in the coming season. For us who have played Super Rugby this is something we have always dreamed – to have a group of us (Fijians) play against the greats in the game in this part of the globe at home.”
It is a walk down memory lane for Tanivula, this Saturday – he is coaching the much-improved Yasawa side that will take on Lautoka in the curtain raiser match prior to the Chiefs-Drua match at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
Feedbacks: karalaini.waqanidrola@fijisun.com.fj
