Fiji believes they can put England “to sleep” in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final as they aim to “shock the world.”
The Pacific Islanders are playing in their first knockout match since 2007 and want to make it to the last four for the first time.
They defeated England at Twickenham in August, and forwards coach Graham Dewes said on Thursday that his men are capable of doing it again.
Fiji believes they can put England “to sleep” in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final as they aim to “shock the world.”
The Pacific Islanders are playing in their first knockout match since 2007 and want to make it to the last four for the first time.
They defeated England at Twickenham in August, and forwards coach Graham Dewes said on Thursday that his men are capable of doing it again.
On their day, Fiji is capable of startling the world. We’ve done it before, and if we keep to our strategy, we’ll do it again.’
With their lively attacking style, Fiji has been adopted as the French public’s second team, and kicking coach Seremaia Bai believes the enthusiasm will reach fever pitch back home.
Bai has declared a week-long national holiday if Fiji defies the odds and advances to the semi-finals.
‘I don’t think of it as exhilaration; I think “crazy”!’ remarked Bai, a member of the 2007 team.
‘On a small island in Fiji, everyone gets up about three or five a.m. When we win sports, ailing people come to life.
‘Everyone is ecstatic. I know there will be disappointment along the way, but 16 years ago we made the quarter-finals and now we’re here where no one said we’d make it. We intend to make the most of it.
‘As a tier-two nation, we don’t frequently get the chance to play against tier-one teams like England. This is most likely the only opportunity you will have in the next three or four years.
We are the only tier-two nation to reach the quarter-finals, and we should be proud of that.
‘It won’t be easy, but what a fantastic chance for us to face England in this quarter-final.’
When asked how the country would respond if they won, he replied, ‘It will be a one-week holiday in Fiji!’ It’ll be insane.
‘Rugby means a lot to us in Fiji; it simply gives us life; it makes everybody happy, and everybody comes alive, comes together. It keeps the country together. Whatever the outcome of rugby, we aim to do the country proud.
‘Fiji is France, and France is Fiji. We adore France, and it has become our home. We’re appreciative for the help and overwhelmed by the amount of help we’ve received away from home.’
