Rugby World Cup
More to Fiji than just Nemani Nadolo, says coach John McKee
Tom Hamilton
September 16, 2015
Fiji: Did You Know?

Friday night will be the biggest game in Fijian rugby history, according to their coach John McKee, but he is keen to emphasise they are more than just a one-man Nemani Nadolo show.

Nadolo starts on the wing against England and comes into the match with a huge billing after impressive back-to-back Super Rugby campaigns for the Crusaders. He features in a back line that also boasts Leicester's Niki Goneva, Bath's Niki Matawalu and the soon-to-be Crusader Ben Volavola.

Nadolo is one third of the trio of Fijians who finished the 2013-14 season as top try-scorers in the world's top three leagues. Alongside Nadolo's efforts at the Crusaders, Goneva topped the Aviva Premiership try charts and Metuisela Talebula finished the campaign with 15 for Bordeaux-Begles in the Top 14.

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Though McKee is impressed with Nadolo's form, he is quick to emphasise they will do more than simply shift the ball to him. "Nemani was in great form during the Super Rugby series and was probably one of the form wingers of the tournament so we hope he can bring some of that to us," McKee says. "But we have plenty of strengths in our back line. It's not focused on any one player as a point of attack."

McKee sees Fiji's "athleticism and speed" as their point of difference but their main focus has been improving their set piece. Goneva said earlier in the week he expects England to target Fiji's scrum and set piece and McKee is anticipating a battle up front.

"One of the areas of weakness was the scrum and set piece," McKee says. "We have put a huge amount of emphasis on that area. We've stuck with the same players there so a lot of work goes in there as it does with the rest of the game.

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"We need to do the work in winning the ball and other areas of controlling the game to utilise these strengths."

He adds: "We know to be successful on Friday we have to go the full 80. It won't be won in 40, 60 or 70 minutes. The intensity of test match rugby at the highest level means you need to play from the start, you need to be on your game at the start and you need to be on your game in the 80th minute."

Fiji will be aiming to gate-crash England's party come Friday night and McKee believes it will be the biggest game in the Island's history.

"The key is to focus on the things we need to do in the game and for our team to be ready for the game and not emotionally over the top given the size of the tournament and the external interest.

"There's been plenty of talk around this World Cup and it being the biggest ever in terms of the numbers of seats sold and the number of people watching television. I imagine it'll be the biggest event Fijian rugby has been involved in."

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© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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