Religious rugby

Paula Tagivetaua

www.fijitimes.com - Monday, November 30, 2009

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The St Agnes parish halfback under pressure at the Central-Eastern Catholic rugby tournament at the National Stadium

THE Fiji rugby tour that ended yesterday with a 29-18 win over Romania is one I will not want to talk about much.

For a moment, I thought it was Fiji-Ireland again.

I had just woken up and saw the green of the Romanians and the clock showing 3.30am but I forgot Fiji was on daylight saving. I was in time to see Goneva score and heard Satish say "Fiji 7, Romania 8".

I watched the game and it was like the final of the Catholic rugby tournament I had watched nine hours earlier at the stadium between Natovi and Vanuakula.

I mean, the last tour match of the Flying Fijians seemed so ordinary to me. Fiji won at last on tour but it was hardly a consolation. You do not gain consolation from beating a team way below you in the ranking.

Someone said last week the tour was a disaster and I agree to a certain degree, especially the way things were planned.

I class it as another folly by Rugby House in its continued anomaly of management debacles. Several things were exposed on tour and one was the lackadaisical way FRU has treated its rugby development.

There was a lot of talk the past week about mixing rugby with religion and how it has made Fijian players soft.

I do not see the big hits and tackles coming now - they are patting the opposition more on the back. That is a side-effect of playing religious rugby.

I have always said do not mix rugby and religion because it is like mixing oil and water.

There is nothing wrong with saying a prayer after a game to thank the Lord for allowing you and others to play and come out alive.

But there is a difference when you impose your religious beliefs to change the norm and say the cibi is a pagan practice that should be banned. It might be against their belief but the cibi has always been traditionally Fijian rugby and never has it been linked to any religion.

What is happening now must be put to an end because it is making a ridicule and mockery of everything Fijian about rugby. In the space of three weeks, I watched the All Blacks, Wallabies, the Springboks, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France and Romania and saw how structured their rugby is compared to the shambles Fiji rugby is in.

These teams are in the top eight in the world, not Romania of course, and just two years ago, Fiji was up there with them, but not anymore -- like falling from grace.

The other day, the FRU chief did the absurd thing by blaming Ilivasi for Fiji's loss to Scotland and Ireland. He said Ilivasi did not do his work as coach to develop Fiji's frontrow.

What a thing to say. They should have worked in tandem for the good of Fiji rugby. What is happening in Fiji rugby is affecting not only Fijians in Fiji.

Saimoni Waibuta wrote from Kobe City in Japan last week, saying he agreed with me and said he was against mixing rugby with religion.

A former club mate, Manasa Baravilala, mailed me and former FRU chief Bosco and said: "Gangs, sa sega sara ga ni macala na ka e yaco tiko mai Rugby House".

"I feel for the boys and the Fiji rugby fans. We need someone who is ethical and walks with integrity to clean out the 'bull' emanating from there.

"We hold the same view that the cibi belongs to the Fiji Rugby Union and the people of Fiji. No individual or player has the mandate to change what has been an integral part of our rugby history. I lay the blame on Bill and Keni for not defending this position and for allowing it to happen.

"For the same reason that our logo is part of our jersey, no individual can say he will not wear it because it has a coconut tree.

"That person, in my humble view, has lost the privilege of donning the Fiji jersey and representing Fiji.

"There are some very skewed theology interpretations being preached by some of the new Christian new-age religions in Fiji and the cibi is one of them.

"It has no biblical basis, just as we perform the meke as part of our cultural heritage."

Gangs went to say that some years ago, "Tonga coup'd their rugby house and the IRB stood idle, watched and did not intervene. That should happen here (via Govt) and the threat of IRB intervention that's being used to barricade Rugby House from the outside world is a bit far fetched -- especially from the FRU hierarchy who have not tasted blood, sweat and tears on the battlefield." Very strong words from a man who played the game, knows his rugby and everything Fijian about it. I don't think people who mix rugby with their belief realise or know that there is little love lost in rugby

Even in a rugby tournament run by the Catholic Church -- for the Bishop Foley Cup -- there has been brawls, abusive language, arguments and unChristian behaviour, but they play the game as it should be played -- hard and brutal.

But alas, the Bishop Foley Cup has not been played for some time now, I just realised on Saturday.

It is a shame, especially for a tournament that has been played for since 1954, when Naililili was the first winner of the Bishop Foley Cup.

When I went to watch, I was told it was just only for parishes in the Central-Eastern zone and was called the St John the Apostle sports tournament, for 12 parishes from Natovi to Namosi. Lomary was absent.

Ovalau said it had prepared to defend the Bishop Foley but after things went wrong with the organisation, some of their players went to play in a sevens tournament. The other eastern parishes decided to go ahead and not let their preparation go to waste.

Natovi beat Vanuakula 13-10 in the cup final after coming from an extraordinary semi-final against Sacred Heart parish of Suva.

Natovi and Suva were locked nil-all at fulltime and went into extra time.

Then they went into sudden death but were still locked nil-all. They went to kicks at goal, as the rules stated, with five kickers from each side but were locked 6-6.

Then they resorted to the toss of a coin by a policeman and the Natovi captain called "tails" and won.

The two outstanding players, according to my former teacher Lepani Rokoua, were young Vanuakula first-five Virimi Vakatawa and Naililili wing Amato Kakaivonu.

Vakatawa was a member of the Fiji Under-19 schools side which won the FORU tournament final in Samoa this year where he was named player of the tournament.

The 17-year-old Form Four student of Naitasiri Secondary School kicked two penalties in the final but the gutsy and disciplined Natovi pack scored two tries.

The Naluwai lad is one of the players groomed by former Naitasiri and Fiji Under-19 coach Master Eroni Vereivalu who coached Vanuakula.

Kakaivonu helped Naililili win the bowl 8-0 against Namosi I with a breathtaking 70m dash along the embankment side to score. The Rewa wing was clearly the fastest player at the tournament.

Raiwaqa's St Pius X parish scooped the overall winner's title for the most points -- they reached the rugby semi-finals and won the men and women's volleyball and the netball final. St Agnes parish of Samabula beat Namosi II to win the plate.

And what about the All Blacks? Too easy in the end against the French, 39-12.

This week, I will cheer for Fiji in Dubai.

Cheers.

Fiji Beats Romania

Game plan: Ella wants to stay

Matelita Ragogo In London
www.fijitimes.com - Monday, November 30, 2009

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Flying Fijian Semi Tadulala dashes away from a Romanian player during yesterday's match in Romania. Fiji won 29-18.

FIJI head coach Glen Ella wants to continue working with the current brood of players and potential national reps for the 2011 World Cup.

Ella said to continue would mean effective monitoring and evaluation of the players and being able to avoid disrupting the flow of programs, an inevitability everytime there was a new coach.

Ella insists he enjoys working with Fijians because they already possess factors that one can never teach, that it is just a matter of "getting to the next level".

"I've always admired Fijian rugby for what they've done, especially what they've done with so little resources," he said.

"They are great athletes and they are good guys as well, we just have to try and get them to the next level and what you need with these is continuity."

"In rugby, in this professional era, there are always opportunities out there so the sooner we can tie up things, if Fiji rugby wants, it's entirely up to them but I am happy to commit myself to them ... yes, they would be my first preference.

"Working for Fiji, you are under no illusion of the challenges but you'd rather work with people who have the ability."

Since his stint with the Fijians working with former coach Ilivasi Tabua in 2008 Ella has only been able to do so on an "on and off" basis, admitting that such coaching was disruptive and not the best way to do things.

With continuity in training structure and programs, Ella said developing players' strength and working at winning line-outs would be his priority.

"We need to be able to win our own balls ... Fijians need not be more aggressive in their games, they're good-natured people but when they get on the rugby field, we need to just get them into a different mode, they need to be more aggressive it's very much a mental thing.

"They are very shy people; we're trying to get more words out of them and also develop them into decision-making players so they instigate things on the field.

"Body strength is important and does a lot to mental preparedness once you're stronger, a little more comfortable in that when you're faster, stronger and better, you feel you can do anything and that helps a lot.

"In the next 18 months before the next World Cup, we've got time to do that, to make the necessary increases in strength and conditioning to be able to compete. There is hope yet for us.

"It's easy to be critical but if you haven't got any money, you haven't got any money.

"Fiji has done very well with whatever resources they have and they had to rely on their natural ability to get to the levels they need to but now, the way professional rugby has gone, it's tough."

Fiji Rugby Union chairman Bill Gavoka said Ella's engagement for now was on this tour with Sam Domoni as an understudy.

He said a decision would be made once the Europe tour ended.

He did not elaborate.

Coach Ella satisfied, praises locals Boko, Nakarawa, Satala

Monday, November 30, 2009

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Vereniki Goneva on his way to dot down a 5-pointer

Flying Fijians coach Glenn Ella was happy with his young side's performance yesterday.

"We played with flair, turned it on, matched our opposition and scored some entertaining tries," Ella said.

When asked, which players stood out on tour, Ella replied, "I've been really impressed with Asaeli Boko and Leone Nakarawa. I also thought Apolosi Satala was fantastic today and gave an inspirational performance."

Boko and Nakarawa are local-based players with Boko a member of Tau and Nakarawa with the Army. "We now have a lot of work to do. The lineout and breakdown are areas where we need to improve on," Ella said.

Captain Satala was also proud of his squad's performance. Satala added, "The Romanians were a tough side and very physical. They frightened us in the first half by taking the lead but our typical running rugby got us home in the end".

"To be honest, I didn't know much about the Romanians coming into this game. I knew they were going to be hard to beat at home. I'm really proud of the way the boys dug deep today, it was a gallant effort. We have all bonded really well together on tour and today we played for pride, country and religion."

Flying Fijians debutant and former Fiji Bati, Semi Tadulala had this to say, "I praise God for giving me the opportunity to represent my country in both codes. It's a miracle. I've still got a lot to learn but it's an honour and a privilege to play international rugby for Fiji".

Will this be the first of many appearances for the Gloucester signing to don the Flying Fijians jersey?

"If I get selected I'll be really happy. There is lot of competition for positions leading up to the Rugby World Cup but that's my aim. I will give plenty of dedication and sacrifice to get there," Tadulala added.

The Flying Fijians will arrive in Fiji at 9.30am, Wednesday

Bring back Cibi President tells 7s warriors

www.fijilive.com - November 24, 2009

The President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has told the Fiji 7s team to perform the traditional war dance, the cibi in their opening 2009/10 IRB World 7s Series at Dubai and George next month.

In receiving the teams i tatau at Government House last weekend Ratu Epeli said tradition begins when they acknowledge the vanua and its blessings and must follow through at game time.

“When you come to present your i-tatau, tradition begins at Government House and the cibi must be performed,” Ratu Epeli said.

“It is simply a challenge of you get me or I get you.”

“Fiji expects nothing less from you, you have the publics support but it expects you to perform your best and more so on behalf of all the people of Fiji, prepare yourself well and go forth to represent the nation.”

The Flying Fijians had removed the cibi from the current Northern hemisphere tour for religious reasons but Fiji 7s coach Iliesa Tanivula says they will perform the war dance.

“It is what Fiji rugby is known for, just the like the all Blacks are known for their haka,” he said.

The team jetted off to Sri Lanka yesterday for an invitational 7s tournament this weekend.

The Dubai 7s kicks off on December 4 and the George 7s in South Africa a week later.

Ireland slaughter hapless Fijians at home

November 22, 2009

Rookie fly half Jonathan Sexton announced his arrival in internationalrugby with a flawless performance in Ireland's comprehensive slaughter of a hapless Fijian outfit 41-6 here Saturday.

Playing at his home ground - the RDS - the 24-year-old kicked two penalties and five conversions, including three from the touchline, in a text-book example of outhalf play.

A ruck off a lineout near the Fiji 22 led to the first penalty which the Leinster debutant duly dispatched.

It was to be the first points of a confident display. The outhalf is expected to be the latest international star to roll off the Leinster production, and this display justified the hype.

He made good decisions throughout the game; executing the full range of kicks and passes and making several powerful breaks.

Days of torrential downpours left most of the country flooded and despite the heavy rain that fell in the opening quarter, both teams handled the ball well and the pitch held up.

But the conditions meant more of the game had to be played up front. Fiji were competitive in the loose but Ireland dominated their own set piece and disrupted their opponents - including the demolition of a Fijian five-metre attacking scrum.

Controlling possession and territory, Ireland added to Sexton's penalty after several minutes camped on the Fijian goal line. Eventually the Irish spread it and Keith Earls, who had come in from his left wing was able to cross under the posts with ease.

Fiji's first chance came midway through the first half when a Nicky Little penalty effort from half way which drifted just wide. But three minutes later he made amends from closer range.

More Irish pressure, including one of several searing breaks by Rob Kearney and Sexton, failed to lead to points but on the stroke of half time the latter added three points after a ruck offence in front of the posts.

Fiji started the second half with a rare foray into the Irish 22 which yielded a penalty chance that Little dispatched easily. The unfortunate Denis Leamy was stretchered off before the kick was taken giving Sean O'Brien his first test cap.

Ireland struck back immediately with an intercept try by Brian O'Driscoll.

As the rain eased off, the wind picked up giving both sets of backs difficulty on the high ball.

But the weak Fijian scrum led to Ireland's next try, Earls going over in the corner after a move off the back a scrum which Ireland opted for instead of taking an easy penalty inside the 22.

Another O'Driscoll intercept deep in the Fijian half set up Ireland's next score with full-back Kearney crossing the whitewash in the same place Earls had seven minutes earlier.

On both occasions Sexton converted from the touchline. A late try from Shane Horgan gave him the chance to try from the other touchline and again the kick was impeccable - like the rest of his performance.

Result of the Ireland v Fiji one-off Test match here on Saturday:

Ireland 41 Fiji 6

H-t: 13-3

Scorers

Ireland: Tries - Earls 2, O'Driscoll, Kearney, Horgan. Conversions - Sexton 5. Penalties - Sexton 2

Fiji: Penalties - Little 2

Teams (15-1)

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jamie Heaslip, Denis Leamy, Stephen Ferris; Paul O'Connell, Leo Cullen; John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Tom Court

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Sean O'Brien, Tomas O'Leary, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble

Fiji: Norman Ligairi; Vereniki Goneva, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Seremaia Bai (capt), Nasoni Roko; Nicky Little, Mosese Rauluni; Asaeli Boko, Akapusi Qera, Apolosi Satala; Ifereimi Rawaqa, Wame Lewaravu; Viliame Seuseu, Viliame Veikoso, Asaike Tarogi

Replacements: Isireli Ledua, Graham Dewes, Leone Nakarawa, Samu Bola, Waisale Vatuvoka, Josh Matavesi, Timoci Nagusa

Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA)

Fiji 7s Team named

Beci in 7s heaven

Anare Ravula
www.fijitimes.com - Thursday, November 19, 2009

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The Digicel national 7s team after the announcement of the squad in Suva yesterday.

WAISALE Beci, 21, yesterday, found himself in sevens heaven when the Fiji Rugby Union announced his name in the 20-member contracted Digicel Fiji sevens players.

This will be the first time the Vuda native has won a rugby contract.

"This has provided me the opportunity to be more focused on my game," Beci said.

The Police Blues club member said he would like to follow in the footsteps of the rug-by household names that have come out of Vuda.

These include Wai-sale Tora and Iferei-mi Rawaqa.

"The sevens contract has given me the best opportunity to continue and develop as a rugby player," he said.

Also included in the squad are Nasoni Rokobiau and Asaeli Boko -- both members of the Flying Fijians team on the Northern Hemisphere tour.

FRU acting chief executive Keni Dakuidreketi said they had incre-ased the number of contracted players from 15 to 20 this year.

"From these initial 20 squad members, the team will be selected for the first leg of the IRB 7s Series," Dakuidreketi said.

The 2009-2010 IRB Sevens World Series begins in Dubai on Decem-ber 4-5 before moving to South Africa a week later.

The second leg of the series begins in Wellington on February 5-6 and ends in Las Vegas on February 13-14.

The series moves to Australia (March 19-21) and Hong Kong (March 26-28) before the final leg in England (May 22-23) and Scotland (May 29-30)

Digicel Fiji squad:

Emosi Vucago, Seremaia Burotu, Osea Kolinisau, Nasoni Rokobiau, Pio Tuwai, Watisoni Votu, Setefano Cakaunivalu, Apisai Naiyabo, Jiuta Lutumailagi, William Ryder, Lepani Nabuliwaqa, Niumaia Rokobuli, Vima Tuidraki, Waisale Beci, Joeli Lutumailagi, Asaeli Boko, Suliasi Ramasima, Josefa Bole, Turuva Lumelume, Alosei Qio

No excuses

www.fijisun.com.fj - 17/11/2009

Flying Fijians Head Coach Glen Ella says there can be no more excuses for their second Test against Ireland this weekend. The side arrived in Ireland with high hopes ahead of their second test. Ella says the have left the disappointing 23-10 loss to Scotland behind them to focus on their next task. Speaking to SunSports from the Radisson Hotel in Dublin yesterday, Ella says the players now have had ample time together to prepare unlike last week. He believes they are in a much better position following their first test match against Scotland. “We have now moved into our second week. Players are in camp unlike last week when players kept coming in till the last day. There can be no excuses this week,” Ella said. Six Nations champion Ireland looks to be on form. The Wallabies dreams of a Grand Slam tour was dashed following a 20-20 draw against Ireland yesterday. Ella and assistant coach Mike Brewer were present at the encounter to review the strengths and weaknesses of their next opponent. He says the Flying Fijians needs to be on their toes in order to beat Ireland. “I thought the Ireland scrum is not as good as Scotland but their lineouts are working. Ireland is tough and they are putting a lot of pressure in the breakdown areas. We need to win our set pieces and work hard in the breakdowns,” he said. Running against time Ella says his Flying Fijians side just has a few days to get their acts right. Few changes are highly likely to be made in the starting line up to face Ireland. Ireland based Timoci Nagusa and Apolosi Satala expected to join the team today. Satala who missed the first test against Scotland last weekend due to his late arrival had gone back to his Gloucester club to play a match. The Fiji-Ireland will be held 5am on Sunday

Ella moves on from disappointing Scot loss

www.fijilive.com - November 16, 2009

Flying Fijians coach Glen Ella admitted disappointment in their opening Northern tour match against Scotland 10-23 yesterday.

The former Wallaby said he had hoped for a win but their opponents were too strong for them.

“Scotland came at us with everything they had and they deserved the win.”

“I wish it had gone our way but that water under the bridge now. The team was hoping to win this first test, and keep the momentum for the last two upcoming tests but we’ll have to settle for this,” he added.

Fiji following their loss loses their ninth place world ranking to Scotland and move one place up to 10th spot.

They face Ireland in the second of two test matches pending on Sunday.

“The team regroups; we go back assess what we did wrong and work from there. The important thing is that we keep moving forward and not dwell on what has been done,” Ella said.

So far, the only injury in camp is to towering lock Josefa Domolailai who knocked his knee during the clash against Scotland. Ella said after a thorough team assessment, they would then confirm as to which other players are injured.

“Fingers crossed we don’t have anymore,” Ella said

BRING THE CIBI BACK

www.fijisun.com.fj - 15/11/2009

The good news: Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific are helping sponsor the Flying Fijians on their European tour. They are in turn tapping into the national rugby team’s huge publicity power. Nothing gets Fiji into the mainstream media more in markets like Europe than a tour by the Flying Fijians. The bad news: The team responded by giving their sponsors a kick where it hurts. They decided not to do the traditional cibi war challenge before kickoff any more. Why does a ritual like the cibi matter? Plenty of reasons. Value one: To sponsors From a purely commercial point of view, the cibi adds value. It helps attract sponsors like Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific. Nothing from a Flying Fijians tour gets more close up exposure on TV than the challenge issued through the cibi. Imagine shots of men like Deacon Manu doing the cibi with Tourism Fiji’s fijime.com branding across the front of their jerseys. That’s what sponsorship and marketing is about in modern sport. It’s what helps attract the sponsors Fiji Rugby Union so desperately needs right now. Chairman Bill Gavoka, a man with his own tourism marketing background, surely does not agree with the no-cibi decision. Tourism Fiji chief executive Jo Tuamoto and Air Pacific general manager sales and marketing Mike Nacola must feel badly let down by the move. When they signed on to support the Flying Fijians they were given no indication the cibi was going to be kicked to touch. Who could have imagined it could be? Value two: To Fiji rugby The cibi has been an integral and inspirational part of Fiji rugby for generations. The late Ratu Sir George Cakobau was amongst those who introduced it. It helped motivate one of our earliest and most successful touring teams, the unbeaten 1939 side Ratu George captained in New Zealand. The cibi became synonymous with Fiji rugby. It has always been done before matches like today’s test against Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh. Why would sponsors like Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific care about the cibi on this tour? Easy. They put their support into the tour because they want to promote Fiji as a destination for tourists from Europe. They saw value in being associated with the Flying Fijians. The media exposure the cibi brings is an important part of that value. It attracts the television cameras and excites interest in Fiji as a destination. In an intensely competitive market like Europe it helps differentiate Fiji, as somewhere exotic and interesting. Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific want all the marketing help like this they can get. Their aim is to build on Air Pacific’s launch next month of services to Hong Kong. These flights bring Fiji real opportunities in Europe. The code- share connection Air Pacific has developed with Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways opens up Europe as a tourism source market. We will become just one seamless stop away from European centres like London. London-Hong Kong-Nadi. Just like that. What about the role of the Flying Fijians coach and captain in this? you ask. National coach designate Sam Domoni and captain Seremaia Bai are undoubtedly deeply religious men. They unabashedly come from the “new” way of Christian thinking. They should be respected for that. But they should not then impose these beliefs on the Flying Fijians and do away with the cibi. It’s all very well for them to say the team supported the no-cibi decision. But how many players are going to go against their coach and captain when asked to put their hands up in a team meeting? Who is not going to worry they risk missing selection in future if they go against the coach? Was Fiji Rugby Union consulted and involved in such a major move? Apparently not. Taking on leadership roles like coach and captain brings responsibilities to both Fiji Rugby Union and all who support the Flying Fijians. If you do not want to maintain the values upon which Fiji rugby is founded, there is a simple solution. You should not take on such roles. If you are going to undermine Fiji rugby’s branding when it needs all the sponsors it can get, you should not be there. Win or lose against Scotland today, someone needs to talk strongly with Mr Domoni, Mr Bai and the team. The message should be clear: Bring back the cibi. For the sake of all who care about Fiji rugby and believe in it. Not forgetting those all-important sponsors like Air Pacific and Tourism Fiji. Brewing now: A beer battle Why was Joe Rodan, marketing manager of beverages heavyweight Foster’s Group Pacific, at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Denarau, last week? There was an added reason Foster’s Pacific was so strongly represented at Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association’s Hotec trade show there. New competition is coming. The innovative Islands Brewing Company at Kabani Road, near Nadi International Airport, might only be what is known as a boutique micro-brewery. But it is targeting the tourism and hospitality industry with an emphasis on premium beers. From their headquarters brewery at Walu Bay, Suva, Foster’s Pacific executives are working on counters to this. They want to make sure Islands Brewing doesn’t sip into their market share. Foster’s Pacific struck early. It forced a rebranding of Islands Brewing’s planned launch beer, Taki Premium Lager. Foster’s Pacific pointed out that it already had the Taki name registered. That’s something an Island Brewing search apparently did not pick up. Now Foster’s Pacific is preparing to respond to Islands Brewing’s plans to push into the premium draught beer market. It has developments of its own coming up. Watch for an announcement. Expect Foster’s Pacific to expand its draught beer presence

Fiji Suffers at Scottish Resurgence

Shape of things to come

www.fijitimes.com - Scotland on Sunday - Sunday, November 15, 2009

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Fiji 10 Scotland 23

THIS was billed as a spectacular welcome to the dawn of the new-look Scotland.

There was a new coach, new newcomers, new skipper and the new sound of Andy Robinson spontaneously combusting in the goldfish bowl for much of the second half.

And no wonder the man charged with reviving Scotland's fortunes was feeling the heat – if there was much that was new yesterday, the same old frustrations were there in spades.

If there were only a limited number of pointers to the long-term shape Robinson's new Caledonian order will take, it was hugely refreshing that he was willing to blood a whole raft of players.

If he couldn't match Fiji, who had five new caps on the pitch and the same number on the bench, this was nonetheless the most significant mass initiation of Scotland players since Derrick Grant fielded half a dozen debutants in Jeremy Campbell-Lamerton, Finlay Calder, David Sole, the Hastings brothers and Matt Duncan for what turned out to be a momentous Five Nations win over France in 1986.

Yesterday wasn't as drastic, or as successful for that matter, as that seminal 1986 match, which proved to be a watershed in Scotland's fortunes.

But Robinson's first match at the helm was nonetheless unprecedented in recent years.

As well as centre Alex Grove and tighthead prop Moray Low winning their first cap and first start respectively, flanker Richie Vernon and loosehead Kyle Traynor came on, with 20 and two minutes remaining, to win their first caps.

Even without looking at Robinson's successful rehabilitation of Glasgow retreads Al Kellock, Chris Cusiter and Johnnie Beattie, all of whom had been overlooked at every opportunity by Robinson's predecessor, the arrival of this young quartet surely constituted a red-letter moment.

In a match dominated by the short-term imperative to win against a nation that knocked Wales out of the last World Cup, Robinson can at least point to a bold selection policy that will lay the basis for his future sides.

That's particularly the case up front where the three new forwards could, along with second row prodigy Richie Gray, be in the mix for years to come.

That is particularly true of Moray Low, the burly Elgin man who plies his trade with Glasgow and had the tricky job of filling Euan Murray's shoes yesterday. This was the 24-year-old's first start, although he won his first cap as a replacement for Geoff Cross in Wales when the Edinburgh prop was poleaxed and yellow-carded on his debut.

Fiji forwards coach Mike Brewer – who filled the same role with Scotland this time last year – reckoned Low wasn't ready back then, but that definitely wasn't the case yesterday, as Brewer conceded. "Moray put both our loosehead props under real pressure," said the Kiwi afterwards.

"He's improved a hell of a lot and he looks like he can improve a lot more. He is a more natural rugby player than Geoff (Cross]."

Whether Low was worth his Man of the Match award would make a good bar-stool debate, but his huge impact on a game that was deliberately structured around the set-piece was undeniable.

If Scotland ruled the lineout, their domination of the scrum was just as emphatic, with Low taking a leading role.

After being sought out by referee Chris White and warned before the second scrum to "keep it up", he did just that.

At the first big scrum after ten minutes on the Scotland line, Low held firm, and when Scotland were down the other end after almost half an hour, it was his scrummaging which won a penalty that Phil Godman duly kicked.

He had Alefoso Yalayalatabua in such difficulties that the latter was hauled off, not that it made much difference as Low piled on regardless.

From the attempted scrum pushover just after half-time that set up Graeme Morrison's try to the they-will-not-pass rearguard scrum action on Scotland's line in the dying seconds, Low was resolute and immovable.

If there was one downside, it was the lack of the destructive little sorties he usually makes. Devotees of the big fella will know that for Glasgow he'll regularly go for a little trundle, invariably making a few hard yards before falling over knackered and setting up a ruck.

Despite what Low called "a couple of early carries and bumps", there was little of that sort of nonsense out there yesterday, or at least not until seven minutes from the end when he got a sight of the whitewash, snorted like a bull eyeing an intact china shop and set off at what passes for pace in the world of the front row union.

But the flashy flourishes were surplus to requirements yesterday – if his performance was to be judged on whether he did the bread-and-butter stuff effectively, this was as assured a first start in international rugby as the prop could have hoped for.

Much the same goes for Kyle Traynor, the Edinburgh loosehead who came on with 20 minutes remaining.

If Fiji thought life would get easier once Allan Jacobsen hobbled off, they were mistaken; Traynor was even more imposing in the scrum, even if he didn't show up much in the loose.

If the stage and tactics were made for Low and Traynor, the same wasn't the case with Alex Grove, yet the centre from Worcester did enough to suggest that he has a promising international future ahead of him.

He arrived at Murrayfield with a reputation for physicality that he lived up to admirably.

He went looking for work from the off and a couple of his early hits, particularly when he dumped hapless Fijian fullback Josh Matavesi three times in as many minutes, were eye-wateringly intense, one of them when chasing a high ball forcing a penalty, which was kicked by Godman.

"I was conscious of getting into the game early on," said the 21-year-old outside centre, "I didn't want to wait ten or 15 minutes to get my hands on the ball or to put in some early big hits.

"I expected to be hit hard by them and I wasn't disappointed. I was really struck by the physicality of the collisions and was a bit wobbly after the first tackle although you have to shrug that off and get on with it. I did get my own back, though."

Although Grove got little joy in attack, he did at least display good vision and soft hands when he got a chance, his deft inside pass to Rory Lamont after 25 minutes almost leading to a try.

Just to underline that he has the right temperament for the roughhouse that is international rugby, Grove squared up to monumental Fijian second row Wame Lewaravu before the red mist lifted and he performed a hasty tactical retreat.

In a utilitarian contest in which the only yardstick was to come away with a victory in Robinson's first match in charge, the contribution of the debutants was a welcome bonus.

In time, it may even come to overshadow the expediency of carving out a win that was neither particularly entertaining nor enjoyable, even if it was very necessary

Coach Pushes for Running Rugby

Ella for running game

Sunday, November 15, 2009

THE Wallaby trying to keep Fiji in the world's top ten nations believes the global game is in danger of dying if teams do not step back from an increasing reliance on kicking balls all over the rugby pitch.

The launch of the November Test window last weekend returned the spotlight to a desire by teams at the top level of the game to kick the ball into opposition territory instead of run with it, in an effort both to avoid being caught in possession and penalised, and force the opposition into mistakes.

This kind of "safety-first" rugby exploded across the Test stage at the 2007 Rugby World Cup with coaches falling like dominoes in their protestations of being forced to take the kicking route because that was exactly what their opposite number was doing.

The IRB turned to experimental laws in a bid to arrest the slide towards increasing periods of aerial ping-pong, notably forcing players to run ball outside their 22 instead of going for touch and allowing more of a contest for ball at the tackle, but the latter move has merely heightened some teams' reluctance to run ball from their own half at international level.

Glen Ella played for Australia in the 1980s when his brother Mark was at the centre of a new generation of Wallaby success stemming largely from incredible passing and running skills. He is, therefore, delighted to be working with the Fijians for the next few weeks.

"If you look at the last World Cup, let's be honest, if it wasn't for the island teams it would have been just a kickathon. Fiji, Tonga and Samoa sparked that into a great tournament, but from the first game of Argentina and France to the final, the rest of the teams just kicked the leather off the ball. I hope we don't see that this weekend."

He accepted, however, that to play running rugby one first has to have the ball, and that is where he fears for his team, who are without a handful of key professional forwards not released by their clubs.

"Our guys are here to run the ball, but if we don't get ball on the front foot and going over the advantage line, then we're going to struggle, and that's something we've talked about all week," said Ella.

"We have some real quality players, brought up in Fiji where they just want to run. We've got to find ways to find room for these guys because they'll light the crowd up.

"But these Fijian boys love to represent their country and they will do everything to make it happen."