With 11 of their squad part of the Fijian Druas, who play professional Super Rugby, Ireland will hope the Irish weather will help them hold firm
“Yeah, definitely,” admitted captain Caelan Doris after an icily cold but sunny and dry captain’s run at the Aviva Stadium on Friday. “Possession, territory become a lot more important. The breakdown, set-piece, discipline, it’s going to be even more important.
“It’s a little bit of different game but it’s still very enjoyable. A bit more attritional, it’s good for forwards, I’m going to be looking forward to it.”“Yeah definitely,” agreed Doris. “When you’re soaking wet and muddy it’s more satisfying. That will be the goal, definitely.” Stockdale and Jamie Osborne give the team left-footed options, and there’s no better exponent of the chip and chase than Stockdale. Osborne’s strength in the air in Durban augurs well, and the kicking games of the halves will probably be more important in the conditions.
And what of Fiji? They’re assuredly the best Fijian team Ireland have faced. Where before they were obliged to pick players from various leagues and divisions around Europe, now they have the Fijian Drua, a professional outfit who compete in Super Rugby, to pick from, and that is a game changer. He is reunited with Josua Tuisova, Frank Lomani is back at halfback with Caleb Muntz, a huge and cruel loss for the World Cup on the eve of the tournament; the frontrow is the starting unit from the World Cup and the bench packs a Top 14-infused punch. And they’ll be every bit as physical as the All Blacks and Argentina, if not more so.
Andy Farrell has welcomed Lomani’s language, and why wouldn’t he? It informs the Irish players that the Flying Fijians quite fancy their chances of a historic first win over Ireland, to augment victories against all the other Six Nations sides.
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