WHAT a fantastic story Fiji are creating at this World Cup.
I am absolutely delighted for them. I toured there in the early 1990s and it is an amazing place.
And a performance like the one they put in to beat Australia is what they have been crying out for.
It shows that if you put in a bit of time and investment, and get the right people in charge with the right egos such as their head coach Simon Raiwalui who is a level-headed guy who has played the game superbly then you reap the rewards.
Their expectation going into the competition was to perform against the best, and they certainly did that with the 22-15 win over the Aussies.
And they probably should have beaten Wales too. But they will take the Aussie win and that can set them up for what could be a clash against England in the quarterfinals.
Having lost to them in the build-up to the World Cup at Twickenham, Steve Borthwick's men won't fancy meeting them again in the last eight. In fact, they would probably prefer to face Wales or Australia!
Fiji used to be a side with unbelievable skills but without the set-piece know-how or quality. They have that now. They have a line-out that functions, a scrum that functions and they don't get tired after 60 minutes.
Denne historien er fra September 22, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
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Denne historien er fra September 22, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
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