RWC preview | Fiji coach McKee: It’s time for players to seize the moment

Wednesday, 12:45
Argentina v USA
H 1.11, D 51, A 10

Wednesday, 15:15
Scotland v Russia
H 1.02, D 101, A 51

Wednesday, 17:45
Wales v Fiji
H 1.15, D 48, A9
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Fiji head coach John McKee wants his players to understand all that’s at stake in today’s Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Wales.
All eyes back home in rugby-mad Fiji will be on the game at Oita Stadium, where Fiji plays its last group game and must beat the Six Nations champion to maintain its very small chance of reaching the quarterfinals.
“They’ve got to realize that the things that they do set an example for future generations,” McKee said. “These boys are very proud of representing their country and they really want to put in a performance that makes the whole nation proud.”
Before the Flying Fijian backs can torment Wales with their electrifying running game and inspirational off-loading, there’s a big battle up front to be won.
There was significant improvement in Fiji’s scrum play in the 45-10 win against Georgia, which is just as well considering what the Fijian forwards will be facing.
“We take some good momentum out of the Georgia game but know we have to step up against Wales, who are a much tougher prospect than Georgia,” McKee said. “We have got some very good backrowers, and whichever way we play them it is a very strong back row.”
No. 8 Viliame Mata has fully recovered from the calf strain he picked up in the 39-21 defeat to Australia, and which reduced him to about 20 minutes against Georgia because the medical staff were cautiously managing his recovery.
“He gets his opportunity in the starting group and we will be looking to Peceli Yato to have a big impact off the bench,” said McKee, who expects captain and flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu to set the standard to follow in the same way veteran lock Alun Wyn Jones does for his Wales teammates.
“Dominiko is certainly a player who leads from the front and is highly respected among the group,” McKee said. “For our players, when Dominiko is out there, he gives them a real lift because he is such a high workrate player. He often doesn’t get the same accolades as some of our other players, who get involved in the more dynamic parts of the game.”
Fiji’s task is made harder by the fact Wales is at full strength in the forwards.
“We’re in a better place than we have been. All (the) players are fit, well and ready to go,” said Wales forward coach Robin McBryde. “We’ve got to make sure we work well, get really tight and match (Fiji). We’re not taking anything too lightly and that’s an area we’ve been focusing on after the first two games, just to tighten things up a little bit.”
McKee tips the breakdown contest as “one of the closest battles” and a potentially vital factor in deciding the outcome of the game. If the Welsh take the sting out of Fiji’s momentum, then that’s a large part of their job done. AP