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Six players on Fiji radar yet to make themselves available for Rugby World Cup

Had a move to Ireland and Connacht gone ahead, would we have seen Sevu Reece at the Rugby World Cup with Fiji? (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

It has always been a challenge in the professional era for the Pacific Island nations to make sure all their eligible players are available to them in international windows and it looks as if that could again be an issue for Fiji at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

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World Rugby’s bylaws state that all players must be released by domestic clubs for international windows if selected, but that doesn’t protect against the more lucrative contracts which are handed out in return for premature international retirements or players fearing for how secure their future might be if they are regularly away from their club on international duty. With Fiji, Samoa and Tonga not even close to being able to offer, for example, the £22,000 match fees each England players receive per game, international careers do not offer their players the same kind of financial security.

Fiji head coach John McKee recently announced an extended 50-man training squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, with that group set to be cut down to 38 next week.

RugbyPass understands that, had they made themselves available, a further six players would have made that 50-man group, including Crusaders pair Sevu Reece and George Bower.

Chiefs back rower Pita Gus Sowakula and former Fiji U20 prop Alex Hodgman would have also made the cut, as would Japanese-based pair Semisi Masirewa and Junior Waqa.

With New Zealand Super Rugby sides only able to carry two foreign or non-New Zealand-eligible players, any decisions made by players at one of those five franchises to opt to represent Fiji – or Samoa or Tonga – can impact their leverage in future contract negotiations.

Fiji’s preparations for the tournament were also hampered earlier this year by the international retirements of Montpellier pair Nemani Nadolo and Timoci Nagusa, although thankfully for McKee, wing is a position where Fiji are well-stocked to survive their absences.

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Despite that, players who opt to make the move to Europe and take up the bigger money contracts on offer tend to be more readily available, with clubs in general able to carry more ‘foreign’ players and not be dictated to by national eligibility. Of Fiji’s 50-man training squad, 36 are currently based in France, England or Scotland, with only 14 players from the southern hemisphere nations or Japan.

With no inclusion in Super Rugby and their eligible players in New Zealand, Australian and Japan often reluctant to commit their international futures, the Pacific Island nations continue to fight against the odds.

Watch: Fiji move on from their defence coach ahead of the RWC

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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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