Players Fiji Coach Should Consider For The Rugby World Cup

Opinion:

The Rugby World Cup is set to kick-off on September 20.

The Fiji Airways Flying Fijians head coach, John McKee has been working hard behind the scene on the squad and by now he should have a fair idea on the 30 players he will take to Japan.

After the 2015 RWC, it has been al­most a four- year journey and there have been ups and down along the way but it is part and parcel of the building process.

So far, the Flying Fijians have done remarkably well- a top quali­fier from the Oceania region and they have claimed the scalps of Italy, Scotland and France from the Tier One group.

But the focus is now on the World Cup.

The recent retirement of burly Montpellier winger Nemani Nadolo and team-mate Timoci Nagusa, has allowed McKee to work on exciting prospects like Edinburgh bound- Eroni Sau, Clermont fullback Se­tareki Tuivucu and even Alivereti Veitokani of the London Irish.

For McKee, the work does not stop here as he and his coaching crew continue on with the fine tuning process aimed not only to get the best out of our players but the best possible combination as well.

That means from the current training squad, there are other players that they should also take into consideration and who knows they could be the much-needed cat­alyst that’s going to help lift the Fly­ing Fijians to a higher notch.

So let’s take a look at some players who are eligible to represent Fiji and should also be considered for selection;

WATISONI VOTU

At the age of 34, Pau winger has been one of the club’s top try scorer in the French Top 14 competition. Votu is a former Fijian 7s star util­ity and has played 12 Test Caps for the Flying Fijians.

MICHAEL LITTLE

A former Fijian Under-20 first five eight and has starred for Sunwolves in this year’s Super Rugby.

Michael is the son of All Blacks legendary inside centre Walter Lit­tle, while his cousin Nicky Little is a former Flying Fijian star.

He provides competition to Ben Volavola who trying to get quality game time with Racing 92.

SEMISI MASIREWA

This Taveuni winger has scored seven tries for Sunwolves from four Super Rugby matches.

Masirewa is lightning fast and knows how to zig-zag his way to the tryline, ask the Chiefs or the Waratahs they’ll tell you why they always consider him as a threat.

MARITINO NEMANI

The former Marist Brothers High School winger now plays at second five eight for NEC Rocket in Japan.

Nemani has Super Rugby experi­ence playing for Chiefs and High­landers before moving to Grenoble in the Top 14 in France.

An elusive player and like Little, Vosayaco and Masirewa, they don’t need time to adapt to the Japanese conditions.

RAHBONI WARREN-VOSAYACO

The tough Sunwolves No.8 has played over 22 Super Rugby games and is the find of the season.

His strong tackles and bulldozing runs have been the hallmark of his play which made former All Blacks and now Sunwolves coach Tony Brown, his number one choice in the forwards.

MOSES SOROVI

The tough Queensland Reds half­back should provide stiff competi­tion to Frank Lomani and Henry Seniloli.

Sorovi’s Super Rugby experience is going to add depth to the Flying Fijians squad and they should seri­ously consider his availability

ALEX HODGMAN

The former Fijian U20 prop played Crusaders and now Blues in the Su­per Rugby competition.

- Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj