Go Fiji, go

FINALLY!

After almost a month of isolation, the Flying Fijians are now COVID-19 free.

They have returned to the training pitch and national coach Vern Cotter is excited.

Hopefully this excitement will rub off on the players, and Fijian fans around the world.

In fact it is encouraging and inspiring to note that we are likely to return to the Autumn Nations Cup fold, especially after the ‘losses’ to France and Italy.

We were down because of the 29 cases of COVID-19 in camp.

Questions remain over how that happened and who should be held accountable.

Given the level of expectation, and attention the tests had attracted, fans will no doubt be keen for some action on the field.

Now that it seems likely fans will finally get to see action against Georgia, attention will shift to this weekend’s clash.

We may be down now following the two missed matches, however, there still is a lot to play for.

For starters, we have an opportunity to prove our invitation to be part of this competition was deserved.

The COVID-19 nightmare has done us no favours except inch out a lot of questions that will be directed at the governing Fiji Rugby Union and team management.

“It was a great feeling to see the boys out on the field training, having fun throwing the ball around, even if the temperature was minus four degrees,” Cotter was quoted saying.

He said they had adhered to protocols, and now given the all clear, and were ready to end on a high.

“We have had our standdown, 14 days of isolation and now we have the opportunity to drag something out of the competition.

“We had been building really well for the first match against France, and it is going to take a while to get that dynamic back, but I think it will pick up during the week and we will put in a performance to be proud of, to represent Fijian rugby and the country.”

Now that’s what fans would want to hear from the national coach. Positive vibes indeed.

Cotter said although his first assignment at the helm had been drastically affected by the pandemic, the onus was to bring the positives out. “It was so disappointing as we were looking forward to getting stuck into this competition, but this is COVID-19, and with it, you don’t look at blaming people.”

With only one game to play, the Flying Fijians are expected to treat this weekend’s match against the Lelos as a final.

Remember we played Georgia in last year’s Rugby World Cup which we won 45-10.

The Flying Fijians will travel to Scotland today where we meet Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday at 12 midday (12 midnight Sunday morning in Fiji).

All eyes will no doubt be on the match. There is growing excitement, but then again, there also is that sense of ‘what if’. It’s just how things have panned out, but we still have a chance to reach out for the stars so to speak, and live up to expectations this weekend.

We say go Fiji, go.