Wales v Fiji...an upset in the making?

[Nusadan]

Must have missed that in the excitement...bugger...

 

[Langthorne]

As far a raw material goes, Fiji has got loads of guys with the size, speed, skills and strength. What they don't have is the professional structure to take full advantage of them. I don't really have the answers for this problem - I guess they need to do the same thing Aussie soccer does (try to build a professional local competition, but accept that the best players will have to go overseas for the money and the higher level club competitions).

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Agree Langthorne.

Full Advantage is taken of Fijian size, speed, skills and strength by professional clubs in both rugby and mungoland.

Unfortunately for Fiji, these professional structures taking full advantage of Fijians takes that to the disadvantage of Fiji.

 

[cyclopath]

Second half possession and position appeared to be about 80% Welsh way.

I can only recall 1 decent incursion into the Welsh 22 which was the last drive which ultimately resulted in the PK to draw the game.

Would love to have seen the Wizards tap and go for glory, but you've gotta take points when they are on offer.

Wales really played very poorly on offence, and should have won the game by plenty.

Full credit to the Fijians to hold out the Welsh.

I put it down to those blue jumpers.

Wales = Red not blue!!

Just didn't sound right after oranges, when the ref calls out "Ready Blue, Ready White" before blowing time on.

So remind me why Wales had to wear blue - did their red clash horribly with Fiji's white? Generations of Davies, Jones and Llewellyn's would shudder.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

So remind me why Wales had to wear blue - did their red clash horribly with Fiji's white? Generations of Davies, Jones and Llewellyn's would shudder.

Don't forget the Williams's turning in their graves as well.

Have no idea what is going on in the NH - Soap Dodgers playing in Grey, Williams-Jones's playing in Blue, Poms running the ball, etc. Is it related to the Iceland Volcano, or a more recent undetected Chernobyl type emission cloud?

I can only think that it was commercially inspired. Yet another jumper for the "spotters" to have to add to their collection.

Is this jumper obscure enough for Rugby Future to warrant being added to his collection.

While the team (Wales) is not obscure like the Tajikistan Test Team, the colour and result (Draw vs Fiji), make it somewhat collectible.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

As far a raw material goes, Fiji has got loads of guys with the size, speed, skills and strength. What they don't have is the professional structure to take full advantage of them. I don't really have the answers for this problem - I guess they need to do the same thing Aussie soccer does (try to build a professional local competition, but accept that the best players will have to go overseas for the money and the higher level club competitions).

A domestic structure seems unlikely. Though I do think the Pacific Rugby Championship does have potential to provide the Islands with such a platform to assist their Rugby. It would take a greater investment from the IRB but the PRC which currently is run as a one round competition with 6 teams (2 from each nation) should be expanded to a 8 team (PNG and a NZ based squad) two round competition with finals. It will unlikely ever turn a profit or be the best competition running but it would greatly assist development of players as well as provide a pathway into the larger and more profitable professional leagues. Would also give locals something to get behind and support.

 

[Thomond78]

So remind me why Wales had to wear blue - did their red clash horribly with Fiji's white? Generations of Davies, Jones and Llewellyn's would shudder.

Because the colours of the shirt sponsor, Admiral, are red and blue.

Their main strip is also now no longer Wales, but mid-90's Arsenal.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Not sure that I look forward the QANTAS Wallabies fronting up in white shirts with a red kangaroo painted on thier bum.

 

[lily]

A domestic structure seems unlikely. Though I do think the Pacific Rugby Championship does have potential to provide the Islands with such a platform to assist their Rugby. It would take a greater investment from the IRB but the PRC which currently is run as a one round competition with 6 teams (2 from each nation) should be expanded to a 8 team (PNG and a NZ based squad) two round competition with finals. It will unlikely ever turn a profit or be the best competition running but it would greatly assist development of players as well as provide a pathway into the larger and more profitable professional leagues. Would also give locals something to get behind and support.

Fiji are happy due to the fact that for absolutely nothing European club sides develop their best players. It is better for Fiji,Samoa and Tonga to have this occur. Their domestic unions will continue to struggle but the other alternative will never be viable. Reason for this is coin - to set up a professional league in Fiji etc will cost lot's of cash. Therefore ticket prices will be astronomical. Think cricket crowds in India and the West Indies. At least they can rely on TV rights.

 

[dobduff11]

I played against Josh Matavesi and his brother a couple of years ago in a sevens tournament, didn't think he was going to play for fiji within a year though.

Fiji will do well at the world cup if they play bai ,rabeni and rupeni caucau. Those guys have been shining lights in the past two tournaments and they will need that solidarity in the centres.

I hope toulouse get rupeni in shape because he will tear up in NZ if he loses a bit of weight

 

[boonboon]

Players in the Super 15

I think their should be a requirement for Super 15 teams to have a representative from the small nations in their top squad. So the Australian and NZ teams would have to have one player representing Fiji, One Samoa and one Tonga for example- So a minimum of 3 from small countries to help them out. WA for example as its closer to Asia could have at least 1 Japanese player and the South African teams could have players from the small african countries

 

[Bullrush]

Fiji are happy due to the fact that for absolutely nothing European club sides develop their best players. It is better for Fiji,Samoa and Tonga to have this occur. Their domestic unions will continue to struggle but the other alternative will never be viable. Reason for this is coin - to set up a professional league in Fiji etc will cost lot's of cash. Therefore ticket prices will be astronomical. Think cricket crowds in India and the West Indies. At least they can rely on TV rights.

The only problems is that come RWC time, the clubs put pressure on these guys not play.

I have said for years that the IRB needs to fix the 'one country' rule so that players who have finished playing for the All Blacks, Wallabies etc can still play for Samoa, Fiji etc. Over the years, the RWC has been absents of probably up to at least 50 top-drawer players who couldn't participate because of this law.

 

[Lee Grant]

Well said Bullrush. This was one one of of the things mentioned in rugby forums back around 2000 when the IRB changed the policy. The intention was worthy but the negative side of it came to pass as we thought it would.

There are more things for the IRB to fix up in the 3 PI rugby countries than the eligibility of players, but even at the time there seemed to no reason not to make an exception for 2nd tier countries.

It should only work one way: that players of 1st tier countries that were otherwise eligible for a 2nd tier country could play for the team of a lesser union provided that they were released by their original union. And a player should make only one such switch in his career.

Nobody loses.

 

[#1?]

The only problems is that come RWC time, the clubs put pressure on these guys not play.

I have said for years that the IRB needs to fix the 'one country' rule so that players who have finished playing for the All Blacks, Wallabies etc can still play for Samoa, Fiji etc. Over the years, the RWC has been absents of probably up to at least 50 top-drawer players who couldn't participate because of this law.

Damn fine idea. Only problem I see with this is that it is too logical and therefore the IRB won't go for it.

 

[#1?]

Not sure that I look forward the QANTAS Wallabies fronting up in white shirts with a red kangaroo painted on thier bum.

Yuk. There is no way can this happen is there?

It must be against the Constitution. Somewhere in Section 36 - Exclusions due to the Vibe, I think.

 

[Nusadan]

Not sure that I look forward the QANTAS Wallabies fronting up in white shirts with a red kangaroo painted on thier bum.

A new source of 3rd party sponsorship income for Schmoo given his bare assed antics last night?

 

[Moses]

Would the all blacks release anesi,and if so, would samoa pick him?