Fiji Bati interim coach Wise Kativerata has made a few changes to his side that will take on New Zealand at 7:30am on Sunday at MKM Stadium, Hull, England.

Penioni Tagituimua is starting at dummy half while Api Koroisau is moving to five eighth.

Taniela Sadrugu will be the lock forward while Korbin Sims has been shifted forward to prop.

Vuate Karawalevu and Maika Sivo have retained their starts at wing and Sunia Turuva at fullback.

Kativerata said: “We made a few changes; we put Api at 6 and put Peni there and Sadrugu at 13 and we are moving Korbin up. The reason behind this, is because those two Sadrugu and Korbin play very aggressive style of football that’s where we need to counter New Zealand in the first 20 minutes.”

“We got two big props coming off the bench, King Vuniyayawa is back on the bench; we got the two big boys starting so when they come off we have two big boys coming in.

“We need to keep the energy up on the next level after the first 20 minutes; we’re bringing Ben Kubuwai and Vuniyayawa. ”

It will be a repeat of the 2017 quarterfinal and New Zealand players will use the humiliation of their quarter-final elimination from the 2017 World Cup on home soil as motivation to avoid the heartbreak.

The Bati defeated the Kiwis 4-2 in Wellington in 2017; however Kativerata indicated the NZ side has changed since they last met.

“I know Michael Maguire (NZ head coach) very well. The boys when they play they will be remembering what happened in 2017; something hould be proud of,” he said.

“2017 will be at the back of their minds but that was a different team. Then they were more experienced; lot of big names. For this one, it is a young squad between 19 and 23-years-olds; hey know what is coming up on Saturday – they have prepared themselves.

“My job as a coach is to prepare them mentally and get them ready so when 7:30 comes you’ll see what they can bring to the table,” he added.

Kativerata added that the Bati has been preparing well despite the cold weather.
 

Mood In Camp

“For us Fijians when we relax and happy when we play good football, I keep reminding them that the game is on Saturday and not today or tomorrow; so enjoy the scenery, the cold weather. The boys are happy – that’s the most important thing, I like seeing them happy,” Kativerata said.

Feedback: serena.salalo@fijisun.com.fj