Uruguay’s predominantly amateur team, beaten 54-9 by Wales and 65-3 by Australia, got a glimpse of what to expect from the unpredictable Pacific Islanders when they lost 42-22 to a Fijian XV in a non-capped worldwide in Montevideo in June.
Advertisement
Fiji’s scrum half Nikola Matawalu dives in to score a try during the worldwide rugby union friendly match between Canada and Fiji, ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, at The Stoop in Twickenham, west of London, on September 6, 2015.
“We’ve got the core group from then, and through our work in preparation for this World Cup we are a better team”.
He scored the country’s last Rugby World Cup try, against England in 2003; his ambition is to now coach his side to score another.
“We are working on our defence in general, and were doing so even before RWC 2015, as that was always a challenge, and with Fiji we are looking to take things up a level”.
The Rugby World Cup may have turned to disaster for hosts England after being knocked out of the tournament by Australia over the weekend, but there is a disaster looming for the Pacific nations too.
The win for Wales means that if England lose to Australia on Saturday, they are out the World Cup. “It’s not about one player”.
McKee, though, says for the long-term future the Fijians required a substantial investment so they could develop their younger age teams.
Taking a big bite out of a steak sandwich, he reassures me that they haven’t come just to watch other teams.
“For a team of our size, it’s a lot of Nadolo in front of us”, the coach admitted.
Nadolo, who played for Crusaders in Super Rugby and was tipped to be one of the breakout names in this year’s RWC, needs four tries to equal Fiji’s record for most tries held by Sanivalati Laulau.
There were two changes in the forwards, where Api Ratuniyarawa replaced Tevita Cavubati at lock, and Sakiusa Matadigo was preferred at No. 8 to Netani Talei.
For the Uruguay coach Pablo Lemoine, moreover, there is further incentive.
Advertisement
Uruguay: Gaston Mieres, Santiago Gibernau, Joaquin Prada, Andres Vilaseca, Rodrigo Silva, Alejo Duran, Agustin Ormaechea; Alejo Corral, Carlos Arboleya, Mario Sagario, Santiago Vilaseca (captain), Jorge Zerbino, Juan Manuel Gaminara, Matias Beer, Alejandro Nieto. Replacements: G Kessler, O Duran, M Sanguinetti, M Palomeque, F Lamanna, J De Freitas, J Etcheverry, F Bulanti.
