Flying Fijians Coach Dismisses Reports Of Player Dissatisfaction Ahead Of Scotland Clash

Iliesa Tora
RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist

Contradicting
reports are coming out of the Flying Fijians camp about
player dissatisfaction as the team prepares to face Scotland
in Murrayfield in their final Nations Championship
match.

The Fijians, who are one of two invitational
sides in the new 12-team competition, have found the going
tough after losing against Wales (39-24) and England (73-8)
in the first two rounds of the chanpionship.

Reports
of player discontent started to emerge on social media this
week, with claims they have been not been treated well by
the new head coach Senirusi Seruvakula. However, the team
management have stated they are working with players in
keeping the unity.

Players, who have asked to remain
anonymous, claim that “the team environment is very
unprofessional” and they have concerns about
planning.

“We are being treated like little kids and
head coach is using bad language and speaking in a way that
is unprofessional and unacceptable at this level. It is
frustrating coming from professional environment in the top
14 to this,” according to the players.

RNZ Pacific was
told the team arrived late to for their pre-match
preparation against England and players only had time to get
changed and run out for team warm up.

Fiji Rugby Union
(FRU) board chairman John Sanday told RNZ Pacific after the
Wales test that players
had demanded more payments, which the union could not
afford.

He said at the time that player allowances
were increased.

Some senior players are concerned the
team’s systems set up through the past years are being
overlooked.

These in-camp issues, if true, could have
affected the Flying Fijians’ performance against England, in
which they were thrashed by 11 tries to one. It was Fiji’s
biggest loss ever to the English side.

But in a
message sent via the FRU media team on Tuesday, Seruvakula,
speaking in the iTaukei (indigenous) language, said things
are okay within camp and the players are working in unity
with the management.

He said stories being spread
through social media are not true.

Seruvakula added
the team had only been in camp together for a week before
they played Wales and then England in their second week
together.

“We, the coaches and the players, agree that
the game against England was not an easy one and we did not
play well last week,” he said.

“But we have moved on
and are focused on meeting Scotland. Management works
closely with the players, with one voice being
listened.

“Yes, there are a lot of noise from outside
but that will not interfere with the unity and working
relationship we have built within the team.

“The
coaches know what we must work on with the team.”

He
said their priority has been working on team bonding and
unity, especially with players coming from different systems
around the globe.

Being united and working together
has been reenforced after the loss to
England.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Seruvakula
said they are not making any excuses for the two losses and
will continue to put their best, especially with Scotland
being their third game.

“It is not easy because these
teams have had time to be together longer while we have not
had enough preparation time.

“But it is not an excuse
and we just have to adapt to the situations and do our
best.”

Questions have also been sent to the Fiji Rugby
Players Association chairman Ilivasi Tabua. The association
was set up last year to be the voice for the
players.

Mixed news

Meanwhile, there were also
mixed news in camp, with halfback Simione Kuruvoli now
missing the game this weekend following his red carding
against England last weekend.

The World Rugby
Disciplinary Committee have handed him a four match
suspension, which includes three club matches for his new
French club, Vannes.

But on the brighter side former
French international Virimi Vakatawa has been named in the
starting lineup to meet Scotland on Sunday
morning.

Vakatawa was named at outside
centre.

His inclusion marks a thrilling revival to his
international rugby career, having previously earned 32 caps
for France.

He was called up two weeks ago to replace
injured Vinaya Habosi.

Seruvakula has made changes to
his starting forward pack, with experienced Peceli Yato and
Levani Botia both out of the match-day 23.

The two
were under performers in the match against
England.

Young Isikeli Rabitu will make his debut off
the bench.

Scotland have also named a strong match-day
23 for the clash, with 14 changes to the side that lost to
the South Africa last week.

Tongan heritage player and
captain Sione Tuipulotu is on the bench, making way for
stand-in captain Stafford McDowall to run in at
12.

Fiji will host Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday
morning, at 1.10am NZT.

Flying
Fijians: 1. Eroni Mawi, 2. Tevita Ikanavere
(captain), 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Temo
Mayanavanua, 6. Pita Gus Sowakula, 7. Lekima Tagitagivalu,
8. Elia Canakaivata, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Caleb Muntz,
11Jiuta Wainiqolo, 12. Josua Tuisova, 13. Virimi Vakatawa,
14. Salestino Ravutaumada, 15. Isaiah
Armstrong-Ravula

Bench: 16. Sam
Matavesi, 17. Livai Natave, 18. Peni Ravai, 19. Mesake
Vocevoce, 20. Kitione Salawa, 21. Sam Wye, 22. Isikeli
Rabitu, 23. Salesi Rayasi

Scotland:
1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Gregor Hiddleston, 3. D’arcy Rae, 4.
Jonny Gray, 5. Max Williamson, 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Freddy
Douglas, 8. Gregor Brown, 9. George Horne, 10. Fergus Burke,
11. Duhan van der Merwe, 12. Stafford McDowall (captain),
13. Ollie Smith, 14. Darcy Graham, 15. Tom
Jordan

Bench: 16. Seb Stephen, 17.
Pierre Schoeman, 18. Zander Fagerson, 19. Scott Cummings,
20. Magnus Bradbury, 21. Liam McConnell, 22. Jamie Dobie,
23. Sione
Tuipulotu

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