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 TEIVOVO.COM – UNDER 19s
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Wednesday 17 January 2007
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Fiji U19s chill out after training at USP
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Fiji U19s plan 5 warm-up matches
By William Tabuya
The Fiji U19s side will play three practice matches against the FRU Academy team before heading to the IRB U19 Rugby World Championships in Belfast in April.
The Fiji Juniors will also take on two Colonial Cup U21 teams in a five-match warm-up programme.
Team manager Waisake Tuicakau is optimistic that his young side can cause an upset against their older and bigger opponents: “The boys have been in camp for three days now and we should be ready on the day.”
“We intend to play open rugby with the HPU side. Our main goal is to draw in the defence and then throw the ball out wide. They play structured rugby but we don’t.”
The U19s boast some strike weapons that could give the HPU side a run for their money.
“There are fast players in the team who are deadly with ball in hand, with Seremaia Tagicakibau one of the trump cards.”
Tagicakibau was a member of the IRB U19s B-Division champions team that won all their matches in Dubai last year. The Gau lad was the second-highest top points scorer in the tournament with 56 points, only five points behind table leader Colin Slade of New Zealand.
However, Tagicakibau is nursing a knee injury he sustained at the final trials in Nausori on Saturday, but he will be back in training in two weeks' time.
Soft spoken Tagicakibau, who plays his rugby in New Zealand, is raring to take on the HPU team: “I should be fine by then and I cannot wait to play against them. They are a more experienced side so it will be good for us.”
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William Umu (l) and John Vugakoto try out the Albert Park heat during training
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The Wesley College student chose not to reveal his game strategies but instead said he would do the talking on the field.
Assistant coach Fereti Verebula believes that a win or a loss is not important against the HPU side.
“Playing against a side that is more structured and boasts a bigger pack will give these boys a fair idea of where they stand in terms of fitness,” Verebula said.
“Also, these three matches will highlight our weaknesses. It will be a good showdown.”
“Our main concern is defence, so we hope this match-up will tell us a few things.”
“We also have a big pack that we would like to put to the test. A few of the forwards are quite mobile so they should be good against the HPU team.”
HPU academy coach Ilivasi Tabua said the FRU will use the match to better prepare the Fiji U19s side for the world championships.
“It’s not about winning or losing at all. Our objective is only to prepare the side for the bigger picture.”
Laced with Fiji U21 players like hooker Bese Buinimasi, flanker Romuluse Ratukana and last year's U19s captain Andrew Durutalo, the former Wallaby said the focus is to identify the key areas that need working on.
“The academy side is bigger so the forwards will give the U19s an idea of what the world championships will be like,” Tabua said.
“Fiji are now in Division A, so they will need all the preparation they can get to compete in Belfast.”
Fiji’s first match is against South Africa at Belfast Harlequins before they take on Australia and Scotland at Shaw’s Bridge.
The HPU academy player’s head into camp on 22 January before playing the Fiji U19 side on 27 January. They will then play four more matches, one every two weeks.
Fiji U19s warm-up matches
| Date |
Opponents |
Time |
Venue |
| 27 Jan |
HPU Academy |
3pm |
Suva Grammar grounds |
| 7 Feb |
Highlanders U21 |
tbc |
tbc |
| 24 Feb |
HPU Academy |
3pm |
Lawaqa Park |
| 7 March |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
| 24 March |
HPU Academy |
tbc |
tbc |
U19s main page
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