Simon Raiwalui praises ‘jackals’ as Fiji pack away old image with new mindset in win over Wallabies
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(From left) Fiji's Tevita Ikanivere, Ilaisa Droasese and Samuel Matavesi celebrating after their team defeated Australia in the Rugby World Cup.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SAINT-ETIENNE – Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui paid tribute to his “jackals” after the Pacific Island nation claimed their first win over Australia since 1954 in a Rugby World Cup thriller on Sunday.
Centre Josua Tuisova scored a try and was Man of the Match in the 22-15 Pool C victory,
“Obviously Australia’s got those strike weapons... so getting them to ground early and getting our jackals in there, Levani’s world class,” said Raiwalui.
“He’s obviously done it in the top level of Europe, he’s done it for Fiji for a long time, he’s very hard over the ball and very good at getting those steals.
“And Josh (Tuisova), he’s very good as well.”
It was a vital victory for Fiji, whose hopes of reaching the knockout stages would have all but ended with a defeat, after they narrowly lost their pool opener to Wales
While Australia’s players spoke about Fiji’s flair in the build-up to the game, this victory was secured more through breakdown dominance than anything else.
Australia actually outscored Fiji by two tries to one, with Mark Nawaqanitawase and Suli Vunivalu – both of Fijian descent – crossing the line for the Wallabies.
Raiwalui said this was a new Fiji with forward steel and extravagant three-quarter play.
“We wanted to change who we are, our identity, what we stood for,” said the New Zealand-born former Fiji lock.
“We have traditional areas where those Tier 1 teams, developed nations attack us and we think those are the areas that we’ve really improved in.”
Rather than a “bunch of talented individuals,” Raiwalui said this Fiji is a “team of talented players”.
He explained: “I think that teams talking of us as a bunch of very talented individuals is no longer; we’ve now got a very good team of talented, talented players...
“We have a real mindset to go in there and win those (set-piece) battles. It’s a new generation that is taking Fiji rugby forward.”
Australia coach Eddie Jones was magnanimous in defeat.
“We just couldn’t get one part of our game really going, if we were able to get our maul going, that could have changed the game,” he said. “We didn’t get any ascendancy in the scrum and we were beaten at the breakdown.”
Asked if this victory – a first over Australia in 69 years and only a third in 23 Tests – would send a message to Tier 1 nations that Fiji deserve to be invited to take part in the Rugby Championship, Raiwalui said he just wanted to savour the moment.
He said: “I’m always about being included in those sort of competitions but today wasn’t about that, today was about us winning this game and staying alive in the tournament. We’ve had that mindset.”
If Wales beat Australia on Sunday, then Fiji would qualify for the quarter-finals by winning their two remaining pool matches against Georgia – whom they beat in Japan in 2019 – and Portugal.
But Raiwalui denied he would be supporting the Welsh.
“We’ll watch the game,” he said. “Obviously it’s out of our control, it will just be good to put our feet up and watch the game and see how it goes. We’ll do the equations and what we have to do.” We just have to continue with our preparation and our performance and look after what we can look after, control our controllables.”
The Wallabies’ sixth defeat in seven Tests in 2023 leaves them needing to beat Wales to guarantee they do not exit the World Cup in the opening stage for the first time.
Jones said neither captain Will Skelton, who was a late withdrawal with a calf strain, missed the match with a hamstring issue,
Veterans like Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper were left out as Australia rolled the dice on youth and Jones said setbacks had to be expected.
“Look, we’ve gone with a young team,” said Jones. “I’ve got no regrets at all. We’re building a team for the future, we’re gonna go through some pain.
“We’re doing our absolute best and I apologise. It’s my fault. I take full responsibility for it.”
AFP, REUTERS
