PNC Upbeat

The Vodafone Flying Fijians have taken a ‘go forward’ approach in their Pacific Na­tions Cup opener against Tonga at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, on Satur­day.

Flying Fijians head coach Vern Cotter said yesterday they have adopted that attitude because they were bracing themselves for a tor­rid encounter.

“The Tongans will be physical and confrontational,” Cotter said.

“We are going to focus on our game and play that Fijian rugby.”

Lyon winger Josua Tuisova joined the Flying Fijians on Wednesday night and wasted no time getting involved in their contact session.

Cotter said lock Leone Rotuiso­lia was nursing a knee injury and would not be available for Saturday, including Vilimoni Botitu, who ar­rives on Thursday.

Serupepeli Uru of Australia A at Albert Park, Suva, on June 28, 2022. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Wheeler, meanwhile, made par­ticular note of the potential mid­field combinations that Tonga will be able to field.

He identified Fekitoa, Malakai Fetuli Paea and Solomone Kata as dangerous defensive threats for the ‘Ikale Tahi.

“They are stacked with talent, all these teams, and it’s going to be a great series,” Wheeler told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“You mentioned that Tonga side, I’ll tell you one place where I wouldn’t be running, and that is down the midfield channel.

“Fetuli Paea, Solomone Kata and Malakai Fekitoa, you are running into boulder shoulders, all of them. That is like a worst nightmare for any football player running into any of those blokes.

“I would absolutely hate that, but, yeah, excitement machines across all of the teams.

“I look at the Samoan side, the con­tinuity that they’ve got, the guys that have been playing together throughout the season, the Fijian side with all those players from the Drua, I just think they’re going to be so competitive across the board.

“You mentioned the eight players, ex-Wallabies, that are in the Aus­tralian A side, it’s going a doozy of a series and I think there’s going to be some big hits and some highlight reels, plenty of highlight reels, in that series.”

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj