Cotter banks on seniors
Coach Vern Cotter is banking on senior reps like Nemani Nadolo and Leone Nakarawa to help him mould the new breed of Flying Fijians.
And the road to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France begins this weekend when the 32-member squad camp in Limoges (Haute-Vienne), Paris, for the Autumn Nations Cup next month. Cotter believes that the presence of veterans like Nakarawa and Nadolo will help him develop ‘greater Flying Fijians’ like them.
Cotter said: “We won’t be going far away from relying on Nakarawa to help these young players in coping up with international rugby pressures so his arm around those players plus guidance from other experienced players will be very important.
“I know Nadolo well because he was at Montpellier and we have a strong relationship plus he has done well at Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby.”
The Fijians play France on November 6 in the opening game of the Autumn Nations Cup.