Saulo: Tuni Can

Veteran Swire Shipping Fiji­an Drua tight­head prop Manasa Saulo is confident that rookie loosehead prop, Meli Tuni, can stand the heat against Blues and All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala, in tomorrow’s Super Rug­by Pacific clash at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.

Tuni, the 22-year-old Suva prop, makes his Super Rugby debut and fronts against an experienced Laul­ala, who has played 99 Super Rugby matches and 40 Test caps for the All Blacks.

“He (Tuni) has done the hard yard from school level, Skipper Cup to reach the Drua,” Saulo said.

“For him to start in this game is a very big opportunity to show his talent and prove his selection. I played with him for Suva.

“He is a very good kid but he will get there in time. Tuni is good at scrums and a very hard worker.”

Saulo is confident playing against the Blues.

“I’m honoured to get the number three jersey but you will have to perform. The game never changes anything because right now we are focused on how we are going to play against them. It’s the same game of rugby but at a different level alto­gether. We have to do things right.”

As underdogs, he said they were going to give their all.

“If you see us push them on Sat­urday then we can do it. We want to win this game so we have prepared well. Always, there is a first time for everything, especially for us lo­cal boys as we do our best because we are l e a r ning most of the time.”

Saulo, 33, highlighted the respect shown by the young players was something that touches him the most.

“If I keep staying up there they won’t come up because as Fi­jian boys they have so much respect for senior players. I’m honoured to be with these young players and play alongside them.”