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What Simon Raiwalui made of England's video nasty session
By Ian Cameron
Fijian head coach Simon Raiwalui has given his take on Fiji's recent win over England being replayed to Steve Bortwick's men ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash in Marseille this weekend.
48 days ago Fiji secured their first-ever win over England, securing a 30-22 victory over Borthwick's men in Twickenham in the Rugby World Cup warm-ups.
Defence coach Kevin Sinfield reportedly made his England player re-watch the video nasty in the lead-up to their Rugby World Cup rematch seven weeks later. The footage presumably was as much about motivation ahead of this weekend's match as it was about video analysis.
While it was a massive win in the history of Fijian rugby, Raiwalui dismissed its relevance to this week's seismic clash.
"It's a different match," said Raiwalui was asked about Sinfield's video session. "It's a World Cup, a knockout match now. It's win or go home. Having played them, there's an understanding of some of the things that they do. They have progressed since that match, playing well. It's good that we had that chance to play them but it's a totally different match."
The former second row - who once played for Saracens - described England as a good tournament team.
"There was a lot in the press and the general public about the way they were playing before the actual World Cup but they play a brand of rugby to win the game, so tactically very good, [with a] powerful and creative set-piece so we're expecting those challenges to come at us this weekend.
"They will look at the some of the things we've done and see how they can try to exploit us. We had the chance to play them at Twickenham so we kind of know each other a little bit, how we play. They will come at us with certain challenges and we understand that."
He also had a word for hooker Sam Matavesi, who tragically lost his father earlier in the week.
"He came back in this morning. He was adamant that he wanted to be here. He's a fantastic young man, very good on his details, so there are no worries there. It's just a matter of him grieving but I have no doubt that he will be ready to play."
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Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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