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 TEIVOVO.COM - TEAM FIJI
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Wednesday 24 January 2007
Human Skewer brings fresh ideas
By William Tabuya
Ilivasi Tabua has taken up the reins as Fiji's head coach, bringing fresh blood and new ideas to the FMF Flying Fijians.
It's fair to say that the Fiji national side didn't make a huge amount of progress in the three years under Wayne Pivac. The results were uninspiring, as was the style of play.
In Tabua, the Fiji Rugby Union appears to have found an ideal solution – a Fijian that has played at the highest level (two Rugby World Cups – one for Australia, one for Fiji), a man that carries the full respect of the players, and a young coach on the way up.
The former Wallaby saw a much-improved performance last year with the Knights in the Colonial Cup, and coached the Fiji Barbarians to victories over both Samoan teams in the Pacific Rugby Cup.
He also coached the Fiji Warriors in their matches against Auckland and Queensland. Though the Fijians lost both games, they produced some exciting rugby and played with real passion.
“I was thrilled to be offered the job because I played for Fiji at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but now I will actually get to put the team together and take them to France in September,” the Tailevu native said.
“It’s always great to help Fiji Rugby development. I was in New Zealand when they contacted me for the coach’s position and I took the offer straight away.”
“Also, the response I am getting from overseas players and former players who want to be involved is amazing.”
Tabua said he has been contacted by former Fiji fullback Alfred Uluinayau, who wants to be part of the preparations.
Last September, Tabua was appointed as HPU Academy coach and the 43-year-old still feels he can take the load and ready the best team for France.
“I will be handling the FMF Flying Fijians and the HPU Academy team. With the help of some assistants, I am sure I'll manage.”
“When I took up the coach’s offer, I already had a fair idea of what the best team is and who will be in it,” Tabua said.
“Fijians are gifted rugby players with a free-flowing style. At the moment, there are many gifted rugby players out there who could see Fiji do well in France.”
Tabua, dubbed the Human Skewer for his ferocious tackles when with Australia, said that both local and overseas players would be given a fair chance to carry Fiji’s flag for the World Cup.
“We will have trials and give a chance to local players to prove themselves. There is a standard that players must reach in order to be considered for the national side.”
“We will start off by assessing players in the Colonial Cup and then later the Pacific Rugby Cup.”
Tabua is adamant that Fiji could reach the top eight in France.
“That’s the main aim so it’s about getting the best team to perform at the World Cup in seven months' time.”
As a young rugger playing in his home backyard in Kinoya in the late 1970s, Tabua first played with his younger brother Tomasi, who also became a Fiji rep.
Tabua, whose two other brothers took up boxing, schooled at Marist Suva Street and Marist Brothers High School before moving to Canterbury in New South Wales.
He played for Nadroga in the Sullivan-Farebrother Trophy against Suva and made his international debut for Fiji in 1990.
He returned to Australia and played for the Australian 7s team at the Uruguay 7s and then in Hong Kong from 1991-94 and in the inaugural Rugby World Cup 7s in 1993.
The Naloto villager played for the emerging Wallabies against Scotland in 1992 and also featured for the Australian Invitational XV against the All Blacks.
A year later, he warmed the Wallabies bench at Otago’s House of Pain against the All Blacks, and made his Test debut against the Springboks.
Tabua was then hit by series of injuries that hampered his game. In 1993, he broke his arm in France playing for the Wallabies.
The following year, he hurt his knee at the Hong Kong 7s and again in 1995 when playing for Queensland.
The robust flanker returned to his homeland to feature strongly at the 1999 Rugby World Cup when Fiji lost to France in Toulouse as Kiwi ref Paddy O'Brien had a bit of a stinker.
In all, Tabua played 17 Tests for Fiji between 1990 and 1999, and represented Australia in 10 Tests between 1993 and 1995.
After playing state level rugby in Queensland for 15 years, international rugby for 10 years with injuries to his shoulder, hand, and knee, the Human Skewer retired in 2000 to take up coaching.
He now has the arduous task of lifting the FMF Flying Fijians to a more appropriate level in world rugby.
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