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'It just sucks watching it on TV': Nemani Nadolo on hotel quarantine life with Fiji in France

(Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Veteran winger Nemani Nadolo has provided a fascinating insight into quarantine life with the Fiji squad in France where 29 players and staff tested positive for Covid-19, resulting in the cancellation of three of their Autumn Nations Cup matches.

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Despite having no option but to see France, Italy and Scotland all awarded 28-0 bonus-point group wins, Nadolo and co are still clinging to the hope that they will eventually have a sufficient clean bill of health and will be able to participate in a December 5 play-off match, most likely against Georgia at Murrayfield.  

New Leicester signing Nadolo had come out of Test rugby retirement to link up with the Fiji squad that is now under Vern Cotter, his former Montpellier coach. The 32-year-old, who was last capped in June 2018, had been included in the XV that was to start against France in Vannes. 

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The widely acclaimed RugbyPass Nemani Nadolo documentary

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The widely acclaimed RugbyPass Nemani Nadolo documentary

However, that November 15 fixture was cancelled and was quickly followed by the call-off of last weekend’s game with Italy in Ancona and next weekend’s match away to Scotland. 

It has left Nadolo, who was one of the few in the squad not to test positive for the virus, kicking his heels in frustration, confined on his own to his bedroom and hoping that the outlook will clear and allow Fiji return to the training ground next week. 

Appearing on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod from his hotel room in France, Nadolo said: “We are in high spirits but it’s tough. Personally, being locked up in a room takes its toll but we’re all positive. We have got WhatsApp groups helping each other out, having laughs and whatnot on there so we’re doing alright now. 

“We get our own rooms. That was part of it. Everyone in this competition has their own room… but as everyone has read and heard we have contracted it [Covid-19]. We just isolate, stay in our room and follow the rules over here which is ten days isolation.

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“The food and everything else comes to you. You have got to clean your room as well so they bring a bag full of new bedsheets. You’re on your own really. It’s an experience.”

The mass outbreak of the virus in the Fijian ranks was a massive blow for the Autumn Nations Cup as fans around the rugby world were hugely looking forward to what the Pacific Islanders would bring to the tournament.   

Nadolo explained that the squad had been flying in training and were excited themselves about what they could potentially achieve. “Leading into it we were all excited about the new squad. There is a lot of young guys come in and then we have got a good balance of the old guys. I myself came back in and I’m one of the oldest guys in the team. 

“The coaching staff, the way they have conducted themselves and the way they have gone about things, it’s completely different to my ten years being involved with the squad before and that is what excites us. 

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“We were actually preparing really well leading up to France and we had a sense of belief. The backline we were going to put out was every backs coach’s dream. The excitement level was there. 

“We actually came into this competition with a genuine chance, a belief that we could do really well. It just sucks watching it on TV, seeing these teams play and we’re cooped up in our rooms. What Vern and his coaching staff have brought in it’s exciting and it’s new. 

“They are giving us more licence to be Fijian rugby players, play with a bit of structure but not too much which is good for us. I guess it’s just all talk now. It’s sad to see,” he said, adding that fingers are firmly crossed they will get to play their play-off and at least have one match. 

“From what we have been told we’re still going ahead until something else comes up. From what we know we are still involved right until the end. There is a light there… if it was called off I guess we would be home already. At this stage we know we still have a game so hopefully the stars align and we can get on the pitch and show our worth.”

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J
JPM 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

13 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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