Cotter outlines build-up plans for World Cup

The Flying Fijians’ buildup for next year’s Rugby World Cup continues against the French Barbarians in Lille, France, this Sunday (Fiji time).

Flying Fijians head coach Vern Cotter said they were fortunate to play Test matches against Tier One nations like Scotland and Ireland because they were crucial in their build-up for the World Cup.

“We’ll get everyone together when Super Rugby finishes at the end of June, and then we’ve got three weeks to even it out, and then we go,” he said.

“We have three games in Fiji. I think we’ll play Japan, Uruguay and Samoa, then shift to France.

“We have a game against France, a game against England, then go home and come back to France two weeks before our first match against Wales.”

According to Offside Line, interestingly, there are no players in the current Fijian squad who have become available under World Rugby’s new three-year stand-down law. Cotter explained his focus was helping to promote the Fijian Drua franchise, which had its first Super Rugby campaign earlier this year.

“Seta Tamanivalu played for the All Blacks and he played for Fiji in July, but other than that … I want to encourage growth on the island because they’ve never had a professional pathway,” he reasons.

“It has always been a scout come from Rugby League in Australia or Racing in France to pick up a guy and put him in their academy. Now our coaches are identifying young players because they have to with a professional team that needs a supply of players. So, I’ve enjoyed that part of it.”

Tagitagivalu shines

Fijian-born Pau lock forward Lekima Tagitagivalu, 26, scored a try for the Scott Robertsoncoached Barbarians as they romped to a 35-31 victory over the All Blacks XVs in London, yesterday.

He was named in the Flying Fijians squad for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup but did not play because of injury. by