Fijian Rugby
Foley helps Fiji with scrum
ESPNscrum Staff
September 7, 2011
Michael Foley watches on, Waratahs training session, Northwood School, Durban, South Africa, May 24, 2011
Foley will bring a wealth of experience to Fiji's backroom staff © Getty Images
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Fiji will reap the benefits of former Wallabies front-rower Michael Foley after he agreed to assist the Islanders with their scrimmaging problems.

Foley, who is the Waratahs' new head coach, was appointed as Fiji's scrum consultant for the World Cup in August. Fiji assistant coach Greg Mumm, another Australian, said Foley and Fiji captain Deacon Manu provide a wealth of knowledge and experience for the young forwards.

"We've been very lucky to have Michael Foley over in Fiji a number of times working on our scrum," said Mumm, whose brother Dean was an unlucky omission from the Wallabies' World Cup squad. "He'll be rejoining us again next week. So between Michael and myself and Deacon, who brings a lot of experience, we've continued to develop our game and we're making good headway."

Fiji face Namibia in the opening pool D match at the Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday and Mumm is confident Foley will help nurture the side's pack. "We've got some young props - Waisea Nailago is just going to get better with exposure and obviously Campese Ma'afu is still quite young in terms of Tests at this level," he said.

The Fijians were badly exposed in the scrums in a 60-14 defeat by New Zealand in July but Mumm is confident they can match the physical Namibians this weekend saying: "We're pretty confident we've done enough work to be ready and we'll only get better throughout the tournament"

Meanwhile, Mumm insists the South Sea Islanders have no injury worries ahead of their World Cup opener. The Fijians had concerns over Michael Tagicakibau, Napolioni Nalaga, Veneriki Goneva, Campese Ma'afu and Sunia Koto in the run up to their clash. But Mumm has declared the quintet fit saying: "None of the boys are on rehab at the moment, they're all fully fit, so we've got a full 30-man squad to select from which is great."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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