Fijians Aren’t
p. 70 · Read in the full issue
So Mighty
From a Suva Correspondent THE New Zealand Maori Rugby team gave Fijian pride a sharp jolt when they made an unbeaten tour of the Colony in July-August.
They played eight matches and scored 207 points against 54.
The Fijians will leave in September for a tour of Wales, France and Canada, and they should go off greatly humbled. The Fijians aren’t what they were.
Another blow to them has been the departure (in July) for England to play Rugby League of tough front row forward Jo Saukuru, who was captain of Fiji’s gold medal South Pacific Games team; Tomasi Naidole, a clever centre, and the promising Jone Ravitale.
During the New Zealanders’ tour the Maoris were much too clever for all home teams, and the Fijians to a regrettable extent played the man rather than the ball.
The Fijians’ general performances were a far cry from those of the 1952 team which captured popular imagination when it toured Australia.
The Maoris scored a handsome 26-9 win in the only test of the tour.
Scores in their other games were a stunning; Nadroga, 19-8; Suva, 21-11; Northern Unions, 31-9; Rewa-Lomai viti, 44-6; North Viti Levu, 6-0; Lautoka, 33-3; Nadi, 27-8.