BACK AT FULLBACK
Nagusa at fullback while coach to decide on centre
Montpellier utility back Timoci Nagusa ran at fullback during the Vodafone Flying Fijians training session at Albert Park, Suva, yesterday. Nagusa has been eyed by head coach John McKee to replace Kini Murimurivalu during their 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Tonga and Samoa. “Jim (Nagusa) has played for us before in that position and also for his club in France,” McKee said. Nagusa played at fullback for Tailevu at the start of his rugby career before he was moved to the wing. However, McKee is still contemplating on who will replace Albert Vulivuli at centre. “We’ve a pool of talented players and tomorrow I’ll be talking to Asaeli Tikoirotuma and we also have Vereniki Goneva who has played for us in that position before,” he added. Murimurivalu and Vulivuli have returned to France to be their wives who are about to give birth. The Flying Fijians take on Tonga on Saturday, July 8, at the Tefauiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa and Samoa on July 15 at Apia Stadium. The 28-member squad will be named on Saturday.
The Vodafone Flying Fijians are analysing their maul defence before they face Tonga and Samoa for the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers next month. Speaking to SUNsports, head coach John McKee said they’ve been working on the video analysis and have also discussed it together as a team.
“It’s difficult to defend the maul but we’re working on it,” he said.
Last Saturday, Scotland scored two tries from their rolling mauls and so were Italy and the Wallabies. “We know that Tonga will be using it against us so we’re working on it.”
McKee also pointed out that they have a pool of talented players who could step in for centre Albert Vulivuli and fullback Kini Murimurivalu.
During their training session at Albert Park, Suva, yesterday Montpellier utility back Timoci Nagusa was running at fullback.
“Jim (Nagusa) has played for us before in that position and also for his club in France.”
For the centre, McKee says, he is going to have a talk with London Irish utility back Asaeli Tikoirotuma today before making his call. “Also, we’ve got Vereniki Goneva who has been playing centre as well. So I’ve got to check them out before I see who could fit in.”
McKee said they are also aware that Samoa has got a reliable goalkicker in Tusi Pisi but they are looking at ways of handling the situation.
“Looking at Samoa’s last game, some of the penalties they got were avoidable so we’re going to work on that as well.”
He pointed out that they are going to name the 28-member squad for the RWC qualifiers on Saturday. “We’ll be joined by Campese Ma’afu in Nadi on Monday before we fly out to Tonga,” he added. The Flying Fijians take on Tonga on Saturday, July 8, at the Tefauiva Stadium in Nukua’lofa and Samoa on July 15 at Apia Stadium.