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'This will be the best prepared Fijian team to travel to a Rugby World Cup'

Gallant performers at the 2015 World Cup where they lost on opening night to England, Fiji believe they have assembled a staff to do way better at the 2019 finals (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Fiji boss John McKee has assembled an experienced coaching team he believes can “deliver a total rugby programme to take the Flying Fijians to new levels” at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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The coaching ticket that will take Fiji through the Pacific Test series, Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup will now include John Pryor, a member of Eddie Jones’ Japan management team at the 2015 World Cup. 

Now in charge of England, Jones stunned the sport by helping Japan defeat South Africa to register the biggest ever finals upset four years.

McKee has appointed Pryor to the role of head of strength and conditioning and he joins former Bath head coach Tabai Matson, who is part of the Chiefs coaching set-up, Neil Barnes and Alan Muir as assistant coaches. Damian Marsh is head of athletic performance.

Barnes joined the Chiefs after working as forwards coach with Canada at the 2015 World Cup having formerly been the assistant coach for the Taranaki provincial side and the Hurricanes Colts assistant coach with Dave Rennie.

Handed £240,000 (FJ $650,000) from the Fijian union budget to help prepare for the finals where they are in the same pool as Australia, Wales, Georgia and Uruguay, McKee said: “I’m confident that this coaching group can plan and deliver a total rugby program to take the Flying Fijians to new levels. 

“This is a highly experienced and capable coaching group with extensive professional credentials. This group of coaches have the knowledge and alignment to take the Flying Fijians forward and to help ensure this will be the best prepared Fijian team to travel to a Rugby World Cup.”

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Fiji head coach John McKee (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Currently a Super Rugby assistant coach with the Chiefs, Matson was part of Fiji’s management at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England while former Wellington coach Muir has regularly worked with the forwards on their scrummaging.

McKee added: “The technical rugby staff have RWC experience, including Barnes who was part of the Canadian team at the RWC in 2011 and 2015 while Pryor was with the Eddie Jones-coached Japan in the last World Cup. Expectation of performance will be high for the Flying Fijians at RWC 2019.”

Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Rugby World Cup coaching and management team

John McKee (head coach), Willie Baleinabuli (team manager), Tabai Matson (senior assistant coach), Neil Barnes (assistant coach), Alan Muir (assistant coach), Damian Marsh (head of athletic performance), John Pryor (head of strength and conditioning), Hiroaki Nitta (assistant strength and conditioning), John Batina (performance analyst), Josh Vuto (video analyst), Bryn Savill (doctor), William Kong (head physiotherapist), David Bick (physiotherapist), Sunia Koto (team logistic and cultural leader), Inoke Bainimarama (media officer).

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WATCH: Part one of the RugbyPass documentary on what the fans can expect at Japan 2019 

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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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