Page 32 - IB March 2018 Edition

Sports

Fiji, Tonga eye Europe players for World Cup

been achieved. with a big challenge but, for us, we’d had
Following the November Autumn tour some good performances and we used
during which Fiji played a friendly against our past performances through the series
Italy, losing 10-19, and coming close 20- in giving us confidence going into the
23 against Ireland, McKee visited Flying game,” he said.
By Ilaitia Turagabeci Fijians plying their trade in Europe to “We were also aware of coming off that
check on their progress. really tough, physical game in Tonga that
FIJI rugby coach John McKee says Fiji has McKee said he was very happy with we absolutely had to be on top of our game
a genuine shot at reaching the knockout the reports from the clubs as some of the when we faced Samoa.”
rounds at the 2019 World Cup if the form players are in good form and have been “We want to qualify for the playoffs.
of its overseas-based players is anything playing well in their competitions. I believe that with the talented players
to go by. “I had some positive response in my we’ve got if we do everything right and
With Fiji’s World Cup path confirmed conversations with the clubs with which get things right it’s an achievable goal,”
with Fiji’s third Pacific Nations Cup victory our boys are playing with,” McKee said. he said.
last year, McKee said the next 12 month is “This trip has been very important in McKee has a big pool of players in Eu-
a chance to play their best players together meeting with potential RWC players at rope to draw from as he makes his selec-
as much as possible. their clubs. It is very good for me as head tion this year for matches to be secured in
Fiji beat Samoa 38-16 in Apia last year coach to talk to players face to face to the build-up to Japan. There are 120-plus
after securing the Oceania One berth for outline our RWC plans and player require- Fijian professional players in Europe who
the World Cup in Japan, putting them in ments. It also provides an opportunity to McKee has at his disposal.
Pool D alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia outline to players individual work-on’s for “So certainly for me now I can really
and a qualifier. their game and fitness requirements to be identify our top group of 24/25/26 play-
John McKee said it was important they able to play the Flying Fijians style of play ers and really try to play them together as
maintained their standards and did not for the RWC.” much as we can, that we really develop our
slack off just because their main goal had “The Pacific Nations Cup provided us combinations, so when we hit the Rugby

32 Islands Business, March 2018