Game plan: Ella wants to stay
Matelita Ragogo In London
www.fijitimes.com - Monday, November 30, 2009
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
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
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