Train, test, eat, peak right for RWC

As is the norm, fitness is king in rugby but hard training without proper rest, eating is counter-productive.

Performing to expectations at a global event like the Rugby World Cup involves a lot of factors that need to be properly in sync for the players before showtime.

And for this, we must applaud the forward planning and effort put in by the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians coaching staff.

In this day and age where rugby is modern and professional, our players need to be thoroughly monitored with proper processes put in order to allow the body to respond when action time beckons.

Our players, both local and overseas, have played rugby throughout the year are getting a lot of pounding week in, week out.

And often we regard this as the norm, overdoing things with little regard with what our body needs. As is the norm, fitness is king in rugby but hard training without proper rest, eating is counter-productive.

Not only does regular rest prevent physical fatigue, it also prevents mental tiredness as well.

This means that the problem is not the playing but the amount of training.

There’s every reason to be fit at the start of a season but there are only so many peaks a body can reach over a period of time.

This is why we should commend the player-rotation policy designed by head coach John McKee and his team.

After the winning the first Pacific Test Series 27-10 against the Maori All Blacks in Suva, he took a different team with 11 changes to Rotorua which lost the 17-26 on Saturday.

Winning is secondary as the objective is getting game time against and quality opposition and keeping the players depth and body in check.

Nine players who were left out include Mesulame Dolokoto, Manasa Saulo, Viliame Mata, Levani Botia, Leone Nakarawa, Semi Kunatani, Ben Volavola, Peceli Yato and Eroni Mawi flew out yesterday to team up with the squad in Japan.

It would be interesting but it’s most likely that McKee will go for another reshuffle against Japan at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium.

With four build-up matches to go before the September 21 date with the Wallabies at the Sapporo Dome, the Flying Fijians are on track with the Dominiko Waqaniburotu-captained side gathering confidence and momentum at the right time.

It’s important therefore that we peak right - no sooner, no later - before the RWC.

This is why we should commend the player-rotation policy designed by head coach John McKee and his team.