giant leap

Sport

Fiji Bati in giant leap

By Henry Dyer

FIJI’S national rugby league side

created history last month beating France 20-12 in their first international test at Suva’s Na tional Stadium. The four tries to

two win by the James Pickering

led team gave them their second consecutive international win at home.

“We have done it,” said Fiji Bati national coach Pauliasi Tabulutu said after the game. “It is history for us, especially it being our first test match (at home) since we started playing the code less than three years ago. “We have won two games against international teams within three Saturdays, and it shows the fast progress we are making in the professional code.”

Two weeks ago, the Fiji Bati thumped a touring British amateur side 40-8.

For Tabulutu, and for the sport of rugby league in Fiji, the win meant a lot to them as they fight for their dream to play in Australia’s Winfield Cup compe tition and a chance to play more international teams. Tabulutu, a former national union and rugby league representative, said the win had laid a foundation that league officials will be able to build on, especially the Pacific Cup tourna ment later this year and the World Cup in the United Kingdom next year.

Despite the win, however, Tabulutu cautioned that there was a lot of room for

improvement.

Rugby League’s southern hemisphere

development manager Bob Abbott said after the win that Fiji had improved a lot and the win was a symbol of how dedicated the players had been since the professional code was introduced. “The win has boosted Fiji’s chances of playing more international games and I am very proud of the team’s performance,” he said.

“It has lifted the standard of the game in the country and it has sent warnings to other international teams of how Fiji is progressing in the code.” Abbott is in charge of the development of the game in the country and in the southern

hemisphere and he was behind the move

of introducing rugby league into the

country in 1992.

The combination of Fiji’s Australia based Noa Nayacakalou, Filimoni Seru, Livai Nalagilagi and Noa Nadruku stood-out, as did Ratu Orisi Cavuilati and Veramu Dikidikilati with their

bone-crushing tackles as they pressured

the free-flowing French side into mis takes.

French captain Patrick Entat praised the Fiji Bati for the win, saying that they had a very good start. “They played very well in the early stages of the game, and we found it hard to comeback,” he admitted. “The win is good for them while the loss for us is very bad. We were expecting to win and we have no excuses to make.”

Entat said the mistakes in the first 20 minutes of the game cost them dearly when Fiji scored three tries. He said with Fiji’s prowess as strong tacklers and good ball handlers Fiji deserved victory. Australian test referee Graeme Annersley said the game was a good one, and that mistakes by both teams were caused by the wet weather.

He said the standard of play

was good with Fiji having a

strong start, but the French finished stronger and were unfortunate to lose. Both teams made use of its reserves in the second half as they opted to maintain the pace of the game.

Fijian Prime Minister Siti veni Rabuka, who is also the

president of the Fiji Rugby

League, has promised rugby

league fans more international

competition after watching the

game. “ As prime minister, I feel very good because the team played very well. They have made the nation proud and I congratulate them for what they have achieved.

World Rugby League Coun

cil director general Ken Arthurson said Fiji would break onto the international scene earlier then expected. “It was a fantastic effort from the Fiji side and they will be

sending warning signals to other top

rugby league playing nations on their

progress in the game,” Arthurson said. I am absolutely delighted. I am proud of the team’s effort, especially the game being their first test match.”

Arthurson said he would not have believed anyone who told him two years ago that Fiji would beat France but the test result proved otherwise. He said individual defence was first class but the team would have to tidy up positional play and structural defence as a team.

“Fiji’s defence on individual basis was perfect but they will have to form a more structural pattern in defence. With an improvement in that area, Fiji can be masters of the game.

“As great athletes, Fiji should be able to match top rugby playing nations in the not too distant future.” □

Arin Chandra

Bati charge: Pio Kubuwai on the move for Fiji against France in Suva last month