Cold a threat, warns Bai
Former star utility back is hopeful that the Europebased players will adapt quickly to the weather
Former Flying Fijians utility back, Seremaia Bai, is worried that the cold Dunedin weather could affect the Flying Fijians in the first Test match against the All Blacks on July 10.
His concerns came as the two teams will battle it out at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Already, Bai says, there is a forecast that temperatures could be around seven degrees celsius.
Bai had played three Test matches against All Blacks with two for the Flying Fijians while his third Test was for the Pacific Islanders side.
“The weather will play a major role in the outcome of the match,” he said.
“Most of our players are playing in Europe and should adapt to playing in cold condi
tions but I hope they adapt quickly because it will be cold.”
Bai, who also spent a few seasons in the south of New Zealand while playing for Southland say, while the Forsyth Barr Stadium is a closed facility and the local-based players would feel most vulnerable.
“Just the opportunity to play well against New Zealand is more than enough to propel our local players and they will need to stepup,” he added.
His comments were echoed by Setefano Somoca, who was one of the local-based players to play the All Blacks 2011.
He told SUNsports that the match was still vivd in his mind.
“It was like we played the game yesterday, Somoca said.
“It was very cold, around nine degrees and it was drizzling earlier in the day.
“We were very cold. I wish our current players all the best of luck and for our local boys to do extra warm-ups it will help.”
The former Nadroga prop urged the Levani Botia captained-side to give their all against the three-time world champions and nothing is impossible for them.