IT’S RAVENTHRILL

IT WAS a grand occasion at Ravenhill (this column will stick to its traditional name) on Saturday as Belfast’s rugby public feted Ulster’s 1999 heroes, 20 years on from their European triumph. The class of 2019 paid their own tribute by seeing off mighty Racing 92 in a pulsating encounter, but there was tension at the end as ex-Sale centre Will Addison took a last-minute penalty before the clock had reached 80 minutes — needlessly allowing the visitors to re-start the game. Luckily for Addison, the ball reached him again and he dispatched it into the stands to ignite raucous celebrations.

FIJI could emerge as a major threat to the established order at the World Cup. If Australia don’t get their act together, the Wallabies could be vulnerable to an ambush from the Pacific Islanders on the opening weekend in Japan.

Wales won’t take them lightly either, especially after the 38- 34 loss in Nantes that knocked them out of the 2007 World Cup.

Another European weekend has brought further evidence of Fijian potency. Despite being plundered by other countries, their talent pool is remarkable. From off- load masters Leone Nakarawa and Viliame Mata to Clermont’s back-row dynamo Peceli Yato, there is more pedigree and power up front these days.

Further back, they have vast firepower with the likes of Nemani Nadolo, Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova and Levani ‘ Demolition Man’ Botia — a centre who has also operated in the back row for La Rochelle.

With proper preparation and coaching, they are quarter-final contenders.