Fiji v Barbarians, 30 November

First topic message reminder :

After a week where the largest concern was whether the clubs holding contracted Fijian players would actually allow the Fijians to play in the match that represents the nations celebration of a hundred years of rugby union, they finally announce their team.

Well done to all the clubs that see the greater picture on the beauty of rugby over using money as an excuse for doing the wrong thing...

Let's hope it's a great game.

Barbarians:

15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 Matias Diaz, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Guillermo Roan, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Willie le Roux.


Fiji:

15 Nikola Matawalu, 14 Adriu Delai, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Sam Speight, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 6 Mala Ravulo, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Peni Ravai, 1 Campese Ma'afu.

Replacements: 16 Jerry Naureure, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Sete Somoca, 19 Maku Koroiyadi, 20 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Alex Rokobaro.

Losing two world class wingers to their clubs is a complete disaster.

Am very interested that he's talking about getting Speight in. Speight is Australian qualified in spring next year I think. Would he tie himself to Fiji?

Hopefully it does. We don't want Australia capping yet another islander. Its bad enough Fiji lost Kuridrani.

Still no Fiji team announced..!!

Considering this match is to celebrate 100 years of Fijian rugby it is a travesty that the rugby world are not allowing Fiji to field their best players...

Am I right in thinking Glasgow have released all 3 or their Fijians? I hope they play Matawalu at 9 - he's worth the entrance money alone!

aucklandlaurie wrote:

The Saint wrote:I'd really like to watch this match just to see how Schalk Burger goes. And, does anyone know who the 13 (Gavin Williams) is? Sounds Welsh, though I've never heard of him. Expat maybe?

You probably know of his father (Bryan a.k.a. Bee Gee) and brother (Paul), Sorry I cant  see him ever playing for wales.

Too bad for him. He might have got a run out for a decent team given all the current midfield injuries we have .

Couldn't England have just faced them last week and fielded some fringe players? Or just anything other than this shambles of a game.

Would love to see Roko the bath wing/centre play, he came out of nowhere from the army and has been immense for us, he isn't in the squad to face the chiefs so maybe he's a curve ball selection ?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Am I right in thinking Glasgow have released all 3 or their Fijians? I hope they play Matawalu at 9 - he's worth the entrance money alone!

It looks like they have...! Great news

Well done Glasgow. I wish everyone else was so generous.

Fiji managed to field a team

Fiji:15 Nikola Matawalu, 14 Adriu Delai, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Sam Speight, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 6 Mala Ravulo, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Peni Ravai, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Naureure, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Sete Somoca, 19 Maku Koroiyadi, 20 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Alex Rokobaro.

maestegmafia wrote:Fiji managed to field a team

Fiji:15 Nikola Matawalu, 14 Adriu Delai, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Sam Speight, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 6 Mala Ravulo, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Peni Ravai, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Naureure, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Sete Somoca, 19 Maku Koroiyadi, 20 Sam Matavesi/Netani Talei, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Alex Rokobaro.

Hmm. Not too bad - clearly they were waiting to see if Matavesi is fit.
 
Niko at 15 is not as mad as it sounds - he's played a handful of games there for Fiji when they won the Pacific Nations Cup this year. Don't expect him to kick any ball back...
 
I see my Speight-related excitement was premature - it's Sam, not Henry on the wing.
 
Talei at 7 is an interesting one. They will need his ball carrying and nous quite badly.
 
For Glasgow fans like me, nice to see Big Naka start and Jerry Y on the bench.
 
Delai is actually a centre, I think - such a shame that at a centenary match like this, they couldn't hold on to Nalaga and Nagusa for just one more game.

Anyone happen to have a link for this? or is it not being televised?

^yes, its televised. i use wiziwig to find streams

great try fiji!

I find these Barbarian and Fijian shirts merge into one strip on my small laptop screen.

Burger looks so much smaller than I'd thought...

i know! he's only about an inch tall on my screen

This side is too strong for the Fijians the ABs and boks combining very well in a couple of tries. Good to see.

Nakarawa has a great offloading game, i definetely want to see more from him at Glasgow

Willie Le Roux is such a fluid player .