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Fiji make wholesale changes for Uruguay

Semi Radradra

Coach John McKee has rung the changes as Fiji look to get off the mark in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup against minnows Uruguay.

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McKee has named just three players from the team that started last Saturday’s 39-21 defeat by Australia and will give World Cup debuts to Mesulame Dolokoto, Jale Vatubua and Filipo Nakosi.

Also in the team for Wednesday’s game at Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium are Cornwall-born brothers Josh and Sam Matavesi, whose father Sereli was a coconut farmer who settled in the UK after touring with the Fijian Barbarians in the 1980s.

“We are looking first and foremost at picking a strong team for this match and giving some players who didn’t play against Australia an opportunity to come into the game and give some freshness to the team,” McKee said.

“We certainly did a lot of good things against Australia but, in the end, we weren’t good enough to win that match.

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“We are on a four-match series to qualify for the play-offs so the Uruguay game is a very important part of that quest.

“We are coming off a short turnaround and it’s their first game so they will have been targeting us.”

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Fiji won 47-15 in Milton Keynes in 2015 in their only previous World Cup encounter with Uruguay, who have the youngest average squad in the tournament at 26 years and 79 days.

McKee added: “We did play Uruguay last November in the UK and we know that they are a much-improved side from the team that we played then.

“They have been together for a while now and their World Cup preparations will have been focused on this match.”

TEAM:

1. Eroni Mawi
2. Mesulame Dolokoto
3. Manasa Saulo
4. Tevita Ratuva
5. Api Ratuniyarawa
6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt.)
7. Mosese Voka
8. Leone Nakarawa
9. Henry Seniloli
10. Josh Matavesi
11. Vereniki Goneva
12. Jale Vatubua
13. Semi Radradra
14. Filipo Nakosi
15. Alivereti Veitokani

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16. Tuvere Vugakoto
17. Campese Ma’afu
18. Lee-Roy Atalifo
19. Tevita Cavubati
20. Samuel Matavesi
21. Nikola Matawalu
22. Ben Volavola
23. Levani Botia

– PA

Press conference with England winger Joe Cokanasiga and coach Steve Borthwick ahead of the side’s Rugby World Cup match against the USA.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 13 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments
J
James 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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d
dw 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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d
dw 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments
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dw 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 13 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

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J
JM 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 13 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 13 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

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C
Carlos 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

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S
Solenn Bonnet 13 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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M
Mzilikazi 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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M
Mzilikazi 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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B
BC 13 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

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N
NB 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

37 Go to comments
N
NB 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 13 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
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