Match Preview: Tough test for Male’s men Today’s clash with Italy in Cremona will go a long way to showing the level of progress Inoke Male has made with the Flying Fijians. This is probably his biggest trial to date. The domination by the Fiji scrum in this year’s IRB Pacific Nations Cup and also last week against Portugal will now be severely tested against an Italian pack that has no fewer 496 caps under its girthy belt, including 165 in the front row alone. Many times in June, pundits were left in awe as Male’s men bulldozed their way past the like of the US Eagles, Tonga and Japan. Only the Canadian forwards really managed to put up a bit of a fight. By contrast, Fiji’s starting front row of Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Setefano Somoca and Viliame Veikoso have a combined 52 Test caps, but by Fiji standards there is ample experience behind them in skipper Akapusi Qera, former skipper Dominiko Waqaniburotu and lock Wame Lewaravu. These loose forwards will need to contend with the formidable Italian back row of captain Sergio Parisse (who, like All Black Dan Carter, will be playing in his 100th Test match today), openside flanker Mauro Bergamasco (making appearance No.95), and blindside flanker Alessandro Zanni (a relative newcomer with a mere 78 caps). So, whilst Fiji can boast a truly powerful and exciting backline led by Nemani Nadolo, Napolioni Nalaga and Metuisela Talebula, the key to winning this match will lie in the level of organisation and commitment in defence at the set pieces. Incidentally, Italian stalwart prop forward Marco Castrogiovanni will also be joining the 100 Tests Club this afternoon. Api Naikatini, who has moved back to Wellington from his two-year stint in Japan, starts at lock, while Racing Metro’s Masi Matadigo pulls on the No.8 jersey. Now in his fifth season in France, Matadigo has excelled in his club rugby with fast, wide running from the back of the scrum, but he still needs to show some of that exciting form at international level. Male’s decision to move Chiefs wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma to inside centre follows the shift of vice captain Seremaia Bai to fly-half in place of the less experienced Waisea Luveniyali. The ever-reliable Bai started his career at fly-half back in his Tailevu days in the 1990s, and has at times filled that spot at the highest level, including in the memorable Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa in 2007. Talebula’s entry at his favoured position of fullback sees another ex-Tailevu man, Jim Nagusa, return to the right wing. There’s not much to choose these days from between halfbacks Nemia Kenatale and Nikola Matawalu. Southland’s Kenatale has bulked up considerably in recent seasons but appears to have retained his work-rate and peskiness around the scrum, while one of Matawalu’s strengths lies in his flexibility to slot into other positions like second five-eighth and fullback when needed. Italy are on a run of four consecutive defeats at present, but they have beaten both France and Ireland this year and last week scored three tries and 20 points against the Wallabies. That, combined with the fact that Fiji have not won in Italy since 1999 when they were coached by the wily Kiwi Brad Johnstone, sees Italy as firm favourites with the bookmakers. Reports from Camp Fiji this week have been mixed, with muffled player complaints about some of the management who have not been able to adjust to life with the team. So it’s now up to the Fiji players themselves to put those problems behind them and put everything on the line for their team-mates, for Fiji and for all the avid supporters back home who will be staying up all night to watch the game. Stayed tuned to Teivovos page for updates. Saturday 16 November 2013 ITALY v FIJI Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona Kick-off: 3pm local time (3am in Fiji) Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales) ITALY: 15 Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso, 50 caps) 14 Giovambattista Venditti (Zebre, 17 caps) 13 Gonzalo Canale (Stade Rochelais, 84 caps) 12 Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps) 11 Tommaso Iannone (Zebre, 4 caps) 10 Luciano Orquera (Zebre, 35 caps) 9 Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso, 27 caps) 8 Sergio Parisse (capt) (Stade Francais, 99 caps) 7 Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre, 94 caps) 6 Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso, 78 caps) 5 Valerio Bernabo (Benetton Treviso, 21 caps) 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre, 39 caps) 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Toulon, 99 caps) 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso, 57 caps) 1 Michele Rizzo (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps) Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon (Zebre, 13 caps) 17 Matias Aguero (Zebre, 20 caps) 18 Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso, 25 caps) 19 Joshua Furno (Biarritz Olympique, 11 caps) 20 Manoa Vosawai (Benetton Treviso, 17 caps) 21 Tobias Botes (Benetton Treviso, 17 cap) 22 Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 1 cap) 23 Michele Campagnaro (Benetton Treviso, uncapped) FIJI: 15 Metuisela Talebula (Bordeaux Begles, 4 caps, 3 tries) 14 Jim Nagusa (Montpellier, 14 caps, 7 tries) 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs, 1 cap, 1 try) 12 Nemani Nadolo (NEC Green Rockets, 9 caps, 5 tries) 11 Napolioni Nalaga (Clermont, 12 caps, 6 tries) 10 Seremaia Bai (Castres, 47 caps, 5 tries, 281 pts) 9 Nemia Kenatale (Southland, 23 caps, 4 tries) 8 Masi Matadigo (Racing Metro, 10 caps, 1 try) 7 Akapusi Qera (capt) (Gloucester, 33 caps, 6 tries) 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (Brive, 11 caps, 1 try) 5 Wame Lewaravu (Mont de Marsan, 22 caps) 4 Api Naikatini (Wellington, 12 caps, 1 try) 3 Setefano Somoca (Nadroga, 17 caps, 1 try) 2 Viliame Veikoso (Suva, 25 caps) 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa (Glasgow, 10 caps) Replacements: 16 Jerry Naureure (Nadroga, 6 caps) 17 Campese Maafu (Nottingham, 20 caps, 2 tries) 18 Manasa Saulo (Suva, 8 caps) 19 Sisa Koyamaibole (Brive, 47 caps, 3 tries) 20 Malakai Ravulo (North Harbour, 20 caps, 2 tries) 21 Nikola Matawalu (Glasgow, 13 caps, 3 tries) 22 Waisea Luveniyali (Newcastle, 17 caps, 21 pts) 23 Adriu Delai (Tarbes, 7 caps) - Jeremy Duxbury
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:24:47 +0000
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