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Northampton Saints to swoop for Fiji's Mawi

Eroni Mawi and Luke Tagi, celebrate with the NRC trophy after winning the NRC Grand Final match between Fijian Drua and Queensland Country at Churchill Park. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Fresh on the heels of adding Fijian Rugby World Cup hooker Sam Matavesi in a mid-season move from Cornish Pirates, RugbyPass understands that Northampton Saints are set to sign Matavesi’s international teammate, Eroni Mawi.

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The loosehead, 23, has been available since the end of the Rugby World Cup and has been playing his rugby with the Fijian Drua side in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) in Australia and the Fijian Latui side in Global Rapid Rugby.

He was part of the Fiji 23 that played Australia, Uruguay and Wales at the Rugby World Cup and currently has 14 caps to his name, the last of which came in Fiji’s recent game against the Barbarians at Twickenham. He is also a former captain of the Pacific nation’s U20 side.

Providing a solid presence at the set-piece, Mawi has been one of the catalysts for Fiji’s improvement at the scrum over the last few years and will now get a chance to hone those skills in the Gallagher Premiership, where he could join Matavesi and Api Ratuniyarawa in a particularly Fijian tight five at Franklin’s Gardens.

Mawi will be in competition with club captain and stalwart Alex Waller for a spot on the loosehead side of the scrum, as well as South African Francois van Wyk and budding youngster Toby Trinder, who has been on dual registration with Greene King IPA Championship side Coventry.

Saints have found themselves able to strengthen mid-season due to the retirements of Dylan Hartley and Heinrich Brussow at the beginning of this campaign, with the veteran pair’s departures opening up room in the salary cap and space in the squad for new arrivals.

Northampton are currently flying high at the top of the Premiership, as well as winning two from two in the Heineken Champions Cup, as they lean on their explosive attacking game under Director of Rugby Chris Boyd and attack coach Sam Vesty.

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Their high-tempo playing style has seen them outscore, points and tries, all 11 other Premiership clubs so far this season and the signing of Matavesi and Mawi, assuming the latter is confirmed, will add two more tight five players capable of adding to that game plan, whilst also attempting to bolster their resources at the set-piece.

Mawi’s signing, plus that of Drua and international teammate Frank Lomani, who is joining up with the Melbourne Rebels, is a strong endorsement of the pathway that the Drua’s involvement in the NRC has helped create for players on-island in Fiji.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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