Like their bi-lingual national anthem, the Fiji Water Flying Fijians performance against France this morning was clunky in parts – the right idea, but a bit out of tune.
While the forwards put up a very strong showing in their set pieces, especially the scrum and in the contact area with some solid forward drives, they were edged in the open by the French loosies.
Our much-vaunted backline was pedantic and predictable with Semi Radradra carrying the ball up into traffic time after time, while the flash and dash of Iosefo Masi, Vinaya Habosi and Jiuta Wainiqolo wider out were idle for pretty much the whole 80 minutes.
In fact, the only back who really had a solid game again, was young Caleb Muntz at flyhalf.
We get that Head Coach, Simon Raiwalui wants to lay the foundations for a successful RWC2023 campaign for Fiji with a solid forward pack playing for a full 80 minutes, but our fast & furious backline must be unleashed, rather than muzzled and used as battering rams if the Flying Fijians are going to set France on fire come September.
Let’s hope next week against England, in their last hurrah before the big dance, that the Coaches and Players of the Flying Fijians are all singing off the same song sheet.
