Fiji’s stunning victory may signal seismic change in rugby world

Oct 2 2007 Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail

FIJI’S historic win over Wales in the Rugby World Cup may not have inspired headline writers in the Pacific but it may have helped to change the accepted order of world rugby.

The Fiji Daily Post’s front page headline yesterday simply said, “Job well done”.

And the Fiji Sun’s front page headline was also somewhat muted, proclaiming, “Mission on track. Historic win to unite Fiji, says Tabua.”

Fiji coach Ilivasi Tabua, quoted in the accompanying editorial, said, “For the past ten years, it has been coup, coup and coup. The win is to unite the nation and do the country proud.

“One thing that unites the people is rugby. They travel mountains just to watch a rugby game. To unite the people is a great thing for us.

“It will bring us together as a nation.”

But Fijian skipper Mosese Rauluni told the paper the team took its inspiration from Fiji’s faithful fans – some of whom went to great lengths to watch the match on Saturday.

The newspaper reported one fan who climbed a mountain to get reception because the satellite dish in a remote village would not pick up the World Cup match.

But Fiji’s win over Wales probably has a greater significance in the overall picture of the game – not least when coupled with Argentina’s success and Tongan’s display against South Africa.

Writing in the Fiji Times, John McBeth said Fiji’s success over Wales had helped to rewrite the national order of world rugby.

“A few days ago I wrote that the Tongan and Fijian players would be walking proud because of what they had achieved at this Rugby World Cup,” McBeth wrote.

“They will be walking with their heads even higher after this latest round of matches, and justifiably so.

“The standard of these two teams, and particularly Fiji’s storming victory over Wales has grabbed the headlines in France.

“Up until now, Samoa has been the Pacific Island nation which has made the biggest impact on the world rugby scene.

“Now neighbouring Tonga and Fiji have surged into prominence.”

Dave Kirk, writing in New Zealand’s Rugby Heaven also believes that Fiji, together with Argentina, have caused something of a seismic shift in world rugby as they defeated the Northern Hemisphere old guard.

“The world of rugby will never be the same again. The pool matches of the sixth Rugby World Cup are over and I, for one, am left gobsmacked.

“It is not that hard in hindsight to rationalise what has happened but before the tournament I had no idea what was happening to the relative playing strength of nations.

“I didn’t know that Argentina were simply stronger, better organised and mentally tougher than any of the UK nations.

“I didn’t know that Tonga had the discipline and tactical nous to get within five points of South Africa and be a genuine chance of making the quarter-finals.

“Or that Fiji were about to return from 20 years in the World Cup wilderness. After making the quarter-finals in 1987, they haven’t looked like doing it again until they emphatically ousted Wales this year.

“For every new rugby power rising, an old power has sunk. To sum it up Anglo-Saxons and Celts have given way to Polynesians and Latins. The pupil has become the master and there is no going back.”

And Nicky Little, the Fijian outside half who was injured in the Wales game, said, “It’s great for us, but more importantly we made a mockery of the money in the sport and a mockery of modern rugby.

“There is so much technical stuff and so much cash in the game that people forget about what really matters – actually playing for the love of it. Just look at the facts.

“I’m not sure if any of the big countries are on as little as $50 a day.”

Page 2 - The taste of success for one shocked Fijian exile – Brain’s Dark