Down memory lane
THE Suva rugby team did what Nadroga used to do, dominate Fiji rugby competitions. After making an impressive run in the then Digicel Cup, the Stallions last won the Skipper Cup final in 2017.
Since then, the Stallions lost the Skipper Cup final twice to Suva in 2018 and 2019, and this year they could not breeze past a resilient and determined Naitasiri outfit which beat them 20-17 in extra time.
The Stallions had to settle without the Skipper Cup and the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy. The Stallions started 2020 on a high note and their development team made a tour of New Zealand. The tour was a success, and the Stallions were looking at a double crown; the Skipper Cup and the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy.
The players who were part of the NZ tour included Seva Rokotuinaceva, Luke Salaba, Tomasi Lotawa, Tomasi Mara, veteran Setefano Somoca and Jone Koroiduadua (props), Sitiveni Natoko and Jonetani Kunavula (hooker), Netani Tabua, Semisi Nakokorava and Manueli Ratuniyarawa (locks), Mosese Tui, Aminiasi Naituyaga and Josaia Nacika (flanker), Lilo Veseivalu and veteran Emosi Vucago (halfbacks), Vilimone Bainibure and Peni Kedralevu (first five), Josese Kurokavu and Lisala Hugavou (second five), Aminio Bitomagimagi and Joseph Cavu (centres), Avimeleki Nadeba and Kalivati Mocetadra (wing), and Eroni Bakabaka (full back). From this development tour, Kalivati Mocetadra made an impact for Naitasiri in the Skipper Cup competition, while rock-solid Jone Koroiduadua and Manueli Ratuniyarawa were penciled in for the Flying Fijians for the Autumn Nations Cup.
All was looking well until the COVID-19 pandemic hit Fiji and players took a break from competitive sports for about three months. I’m sure this break killed Nadroga’s momentum, and they had to rely on their senior players, some of whom were past their peak, to steer them through.
Against Suva in the doubleheader at Lawaqa Park in the first round of the Skipper Cup, Nadroga fielded Timoci Sauvoli, Ratunaisa Navuma, Jone Koroiduadua, Sailosi Dawai, Rupeni Nasiga, Aca Simolo, Jone Navori, Eremasi Radrodro, Joseva Kuricuva, Josese Kurukavu, Europe-based Napolioni Nalaga, Ifereimi Tovilevu, Jonetani Vasurakuta, Jiuta Lutumailagi, Apisalome Waqatabu, Jonetani Kunavula and the likes of Apete Salawaqavuka, Taniela Vatunicoko, Ulaiasi Lawavou, Naiqama Salakibulu, Sakiusa Nakalevu, Sakiusa Gavidi and Savenaca Navuniharau came off the bench. Nadroga was trailing Suva 13-8, but the hosts rallied on until the closing whistle, and they were awarded a penalty try that resulted in them defending their home turf.
In the second match against Namosi at Lawaqa Park which Nadroga lost 15-6, the likes of Rusiate Nasove, Peceli Nacebe, 7s hitman Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Lisala Hugavou and Samu Laqai got a taste of top level competition in the Skipper Cup. The likes of Aseri Robarobalevu, Sakiusa Nadruku, Vinaya Habosi, Kalivati Ravouvou and Esala Nalobo either were part of Nadroga development or had links to the province. Even Namosi head coach Asaeli Boko had donned the Nadroga jumper, and he was part of Nadroga’s success. In that thrilling encounter, the two factors that stood out in Nadroga’s loss were lack of concentration and indiscipline. In their third match against Tailevu at Rt Cakobau Park, the likes of Mosese Kurokavu, Avimeleki Naceba and 7s towering forward
Apenisa Cakaubalavu featured in the starting line-up. Against Naitasiri at Lawaqa Park in the 9-6 loss, Nadro brought in more names like Taniela Vatunicoko, Rusiate Nasove, who was selected in the starting line-up for the Barbarians against England (but the game did not take place), Samisoni Navatu and Josaia Maiyale, while against Yasawa the likes of Meli Neori, Timoci Davu, Beniamino Kalounidau, Kavekini Tabu, Kitione Vatunitu, Joseva Nahalo, Waqabaca Ledua, Taitusi Lulusinu, Vilimone Bainibure and Eroni Bakabaka donned the white jumper. In the final match of round one against Lautoka at Churchill Park that Nadro won via the boots of Apisalome Waqatabu, the likes of Sailasa Kerekere, Jasa Veremalua, Mesake Tuinamena, Isoa Tabu, Mosese Gavidi, Semisi Nakokorava and Apisai Waqaliva flexed their muscles in the Nadroga jersey. In round two against Suva at the ANZ Stadium, Nadroga faced Suva, and for me that come back by Nadroga in the second half was brilliant.
After the Capital City had taken a handy 22-0 lead and the way the Suva pack rattled Nadroga in the first half, few would have given Nadroga any chance in the second half but the Nadroga onslaught was too hot to handle and led by inspiration in the likes of Mesake Tuinamena, Emosi Vucago, Sakiusa Nakalevu and Manueli Ratuniyarawa, Nadroga fought back to narrow the deficit, and to everyone’s surprise went past Suva 26-22, and this score-line shocked those fans dressed in blue. However, the day belonged to James Brown and his blue brigade as they outmuscled Nadroga in the late stage of the second half. That close call woke Suva up as the Sakaraia Labalaba-coached outfit took the lead on the points table. Two former Nadroga players Manoa Tamaya and Ratu Penijamini Makutu faced their former side. After the loss to Suva, Nadroga travelled to Rt Cakobau
Park to challenge Namosi, and once again poor decision making affected the side. As the rounds progressed, Nadroga gave their new boys more game time, and trust me come 2021, these boys will be ready to take on big names in Fiji’s provincial rugby competition. The likes of Mesake Tuinamena, Rusiate Nasove, Jonetani Kunavula, Josaia Cokaibusa, Naelesoni Nasokitabua, Peni Kedralevu, Panapasa Qeruqeru, Naiqama Salakibulu, Samisoni Navatu and Ratu Wame Waqanaceva are future rugby stars, and I commend Nadroga Rugby Union for unleashing new talents at provincial level. Provincial unions are benefiting from Nadroga’s hard work and dedication in identifying these talents, and it is imperative that we give credit where it is due. In the article titled ‘Ratuniyarawa fights on’ (FT: 07/11/2020), Nadroga Rugby Union President Tiko Matawalu shared with our journalist Eroni Tuinuku how Manu Ratuniyarawa showed great courage to fight on and earn a spot in the Flying Fijians team for the Autumn Nations Cup.
Manu, who started his rugby journey with QVS, joined the Uluinakau 7s team, and he was part of the Naitasiri U-20 team and the Wardens 7s team. He joined the Conua Chiefs in 2019, and was part of the Nadroga Super Franchise Rugby, where he was drafted in the Nadroga XVs 30-member squad to tour NZ. Ratuniyarawa is a role model for those who are planning to make rugby headlines. The glorious days of Nadroga rugby may have come to an end, just as the All Blacks when the lost the Webb Ellis Trophy last year, but just like the rugby super powers, Nadroga will make a come-back. The Stallions last won the Skipper Cup in 2017 when they defeated Namosi 40-20 at Lawaqa Park. The Stallions engraved their name in Fiji’s rugby book after they won the title for nine consecutive years- starting from 2009. Nadro shattered Namosi’s hope of winning their first ever Skipper Cup final after a scintillating second half performance where they were down 13-7 at the half-time break.
A heavy-hit pep-talk from coach Esala Nauga resulted in the Stallions finally finding their rhythm in the second spell to score 33 points to Namosi’s seven points. Nadroga turned the tables as they rattled Namois’s forwards with bustling runs, which were completed with offload tackles and pick and drive phases. That was a clinical finish from the giants of Fiji rugby, and I vividly recall dancing to the beats of the music as I celebrated wildly not knowing that the 2017 victory would be the last celebration for this decade for Suva has been winning since 2018, and this year John Stewart’s boys completed their treble.
I’m dying to see a repeat of that glorious 2009 to 2017 era, and I’m sure the boys will work hard to gift us our first Skipper Cup title after three years of losses. As I conclude, I pick my best 15 players that donned the Nadroga jumperTimoci Sauvoli, Ratunaisa Navuma, Jone Koroiduadua, Manueli Ratuniyarawa, Rupeni Nasiga, Jone Navori, Rusiate Nasove, Eremasi Radrodro, Emosi Vucago, Josese Kurukavu, Napolioni Nalaga, Sakiusa Nakalevu, Mesake Tuinamena, Savenaca Navuniharau and Apisalome Waqatabu. Some senior players gave their best shot and for me the likes of Jiuta Lutumailagi, Peni Kedralevu, Luke Salaba and Jasa Veremalua were super subs. If there is a player who deserves to be Nadroga’s best rugby find this season then it has to be Manueli Ratuniyarawa. He deserves special recognition for the role he played this season. Nadroga is down today, but every line has a ray of hope!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam is a regular contributor to this newspaper and the views expressed in this article are his and not necessarily shared by