MESU BACK AT NO.7
Drua hooker could provide ‘killer instinct’ needed for position
Back to where he started from. That’s the story of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua hooker Mesulame Dolokoto who yesterday was named to play at openside flanker (No.7) in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against Moana Pasifika.
Fiji Rugby Elite Players Pathway manager Bill Gadolo told SUNsports, that Dolokoto could provide the killer instincts needed for someone to play the position.
Gadolo said Dolokoto played No.7 (flanker) and No.8 while captaining Queen Victoria School in their Deans Trophy victory in 2012 and reaching the final in 2013. He played in the two positions while on a scholarship at the Brumbies Academy in Canberra.
“When Mesu joined the High Performance Unit (HPU), we advised him that due to his height, he could do well at hooker and that was his pathway to become a Flying
Fijian,” Gadolo said.
“He made it. Now the Drua coach may see that players for the spot may lack the killer instinct and probably decided to move Mesu there. It’s always good for coaches to have players who could play in two positions.”
During the Super Rugby competition, Dolokoto was time and again moved to the side of the scrum where he showed his class especially during broken play.
He had set-up a number of tries and made several turnovers as well.
Ram Sami Suva rugby team manager Nemani Tuifagalele said for Dolokoto to play at No.7 in nothing new to him.
“His size might create some controversy but his agility and speed remain, that could catch the eye of any coach to award him the No.7 jersey without question,” he said.
Apart from rugby, Tuifagalele said, that Dolokoto represented QVS at the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics finals, where he participated in the 200 metres, 400m, long jump and 4x100m relay.
Dolokoto also captained the Fijian Under-18 rugby team that upset the New Zealand U18 side 22-20 in 2013. Also part of that historic win was his Drua teammate Leone Nawai and NRL star forward Viliame Kikau.