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Liam Messam names 'the freakiest player' he's ever played with
By Ned Lester
In 17 years of professional rugby, 43-Test All Black Liam Messam played with some of the world's finest players. None compared to Fiji's Josua Tuisova.
A standout in the Flying Fijians' historic win over the Wallabies, Tuisova has earned huge praise for his damaging play on both sides of the ball.
The 29-year-old was an undeniable influence on the outcome of the match; a joint leader for carries (11) and turnovers won (3) while running for the second-most metres in the match and scoring his team's only try.
It's the kind of performance Messam was well aware his former Toulon teammate was capable of.
"Bro, he's a freak," Messam told RWC on Island.
"I've played with some world-class players, some freakish players, guys like (Sitiveni) Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Dan Carter. But hands down, Josua Tuisova's the freakiest player I've ever played with.
"He's your typical Fijian too, sometimes he doesn't show up, like 'leave me alone, I don't want to play today' and then some days he's the best player in the world and we're seeing that.
"His calves are the same size as Nili (Latu's) head. He's a big man and really impressive to see."
Tuisova played across the backline during Fiji's Pacific Nations Cup campaign, helping the team to a perfect record to win the competition.
The team built on that form and while a loss to France kicked off their Rugby World Cup warm-up games on a disappointing note, they bounced back with a first-ever win over England at Twickenham.
Tuisova didn't play in that game after sustaining a knock in training, he then started the World Cup coming off the bench against Wales. Once on the field, the 113kg bruiser sparked a resurgence and brought Fiji back to the brink of victory, only to fall short in the dying moments.
He was subsequently promoted to start at second five-eighth for the Wallabies Test.
Traditionally, Fiji wins have come through dazzling, expansive play with long-range attacking plays sparked from all over the field. But against Australia, the team built pressure through their set piece and work at the breakdown before converting the Wallabies' ill discipline into points through Simione Kuruvoli's penalty kicks.
"It's really impressive," Messam said of the Fijian gameplan. "Maybe Fiji's not known for kicking goals but it's really going to pay off at the end of the tournament.
"The bonus is they've got the crowd on their side now, they're the second favourite team in the competition. There's France and then there's going to be Fiji.
"You see all the people dressed up in Bula shirts and chanting, that goes a long way when you're playing in a tournament."
As is the case every World Cup, fans can't help but love the Fijian team. Former Manu Samoa star Tuilagi Alesana Tuilagi sees the team having what it takes to go all the way.
"The quality of the players that Fiji have, and the team, it shows last week," he said of the win over Australia. "They can beat any team in the world. There's a passion for the game and they believe that with the way they played, they can beat any team in this competition."
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Warren, if you think you should stay on coaching Wales, you are beyond deluded. If you love Wales & Welsh rugby as much as you say you do (& I'm sure you probably do) you should resign immediately so this once proud & passionate rugby nation can rebuild without you. How many of your players will make the British & Irish Lions squad.?
It's time to walk the plank.!
Go to commentsYeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
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