Fiji are determined to end a frustrating World Cup campaign with a victory but are not taking anything for granted against Uruguay.
Advertisement
This is Uruguay’s best chance of an upset this year, but they are unlikely to be able to match the Islanders for power or speed.
On day 19 of the Rugby World Cup (RWC), two teams ought to finally walk off a pitch smiling.
“You’re not going to get rich playing rugby in Uruguay”, he laughs, “but I would like to see rugby evolve and more people to take up the sport”.
“The truth is that we don’t think about winning here but about showing our game and if we win it will be as a outcome of doing things well”, he said.
Fiji will take on Uruguay at 7am tomorrow.
Despite their experience in terms of caps, Uruguay’s team is third youngest at RWCs with an average age of 26 years 202 days.
Uruguay have also failed to win a match at England 2015 and should prove easy prey for Fiji. “From that point of view, I can not fault the effort of the players”, McKee said. “This will be our challenge come Tuesday. The players are very motivated to finish the tournament on a high note”. Nadolo was suspended from Fiji’s clash against Wales in Cardiff for stamping. He plies his trade in Romania for Steaua Bucharest having left Fiji in 2003 for play for Farul Constanta.
Pablo Lemoine will fly home to Uruguay with one prize from Rugby World Cup 2015 but the Los Teros coach has an eye on another one. He still holds the record as oldest player to feature in a RWC match. “It’s not about one player”. He plays for Stade Montois in France and has also represented Uruguay in Sevens.
“We know we’re fighting against the odds, but we actually enjoy measuring ourselves against stronger teams to see at what level we really are”, he says.
Nadolo, who plays for Crusaders in Super Rugby, was tipped to be one of the breakout names in this World Cup, but it has been a struggle for Fiji to get the ball to him. “We can’t make any excuses for their discipline”.
Prediction: Fiji shouldn’t be troubled.
Fiji: Kini Murimurivalu, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Vereniki Goneva, Lepani Botia, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nemia Kenatale; Campese Ma’afu, Sunia Koto, Leroy Atalifo, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Akapusi Qera (captain), Sakiusa Matadigo.
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.
