Overseas-based stars back to boost Fiji

Scotland will face a Fiji side boosted by the return of several overseas-based players when the two nations clash in Suva on 24 June.

Fiji have welcomed back Vereniki Goneva, Nikola Matawalu, Napolioni Dawai, Viliame Mata, Sikeli Nabou, Campese Ma’afu, Tevita Cavubati, Jale Vatubua, Benito Masilevu, Peni Ravai and Dominiko Waqaniburotu as they begin preparations for a vital run of matches.

First, Fiji play World Cup finalists Australia in Melbourne on 10 June and, after the clash with the Wallabies – a squad featuring a host of Fiji-born players – they will host Italy in Suva on 17 June

0 Mckee: World Cup target. and Scotland seven days later. But more important matches lie ahead when they compete against Samoa and Tonga in the July 1-15 Pacific Nations Cup. The top two teams at the end of the tournament will qualify automatically from Oceania for the Rugby World Cup in Japan. The thirdplaced team retain a chance to qualify through a homeand-away play-off against a European qualifier.

Fiji’s Australian-born coach John Mckee said yesterday that the Pacific Nations Cup matches loomed large over the coming the season and “our very clear goal is Rugby World Cup qualification.”

“Over this campaign, in the first little bloc, we have Australia, Italy and Scotland; three very different teams and three different challenges,” Mckee said. “Initially, we’re spending our time in camp getting our gameplan and getting our team combinations.”

The first three Tests offer opportunities to fine-tune for July. Mckee said: “We really want to concentrate on building our team, building our performance and ensuring that we’re playing at the standard we should and we win that qualification.”