Fiji rugby

The Flying Fijians brought physicality, structure and tempo to the test and troubled the All Blacks for the best part of an hour. The side’s lack of preparation time as a squad leading up to the test seemingly did not show, as some nicely worked interchanges saw them rack up three tries in 60 minutes.

Considering some of the names missing from the Fijian squad for this two-test Steinlager Series with the All Blacks, head coach Vern Cotter will most likely be pleased with how his side represented themselves, both on and off the pitch on Saturday.

Smith will lead the All Blacks against Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday and the question is, will the Flying Fijians pose a bigger challenge than the under strength Tongans who overcame a mountain of obstacles just to field a team last week at Mt Smart?

The All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made 13 changes to his starting XV from the one that crushed Tonga and he said Smith deserves the right to captain the side against Fiji.

Peni Ravia, Sam Matavei and Mesake Doge will lead the forward pack, guided by Leone Nakarawa in the second row and Albert Tuisue at backrow.

The backline is packed with experience in Ben Volavola and Simione Kuruvoli who will share the halves position. Captain Levani Botia and Waisea Nayacalevu marshall the midfield, Nemani Nadolo and Eroni Sau are on the wings and Kini Murimurivalu is at full-back.

Seta Tuicuvu will be covering substitute for full-back, first five and halfback while three debutants have been named on the bench.

The deal, which will last until 2024, means Nike will replace ISC as the kit manufacturer for the Fiji men’s and women’s XVs and sevens teams.

FRU chief executive John O’Connor said the deal was significant for the organisation given the global reputation of Nike and the fact that it is the first time the American apparel brand has sponsored a Pacific rugby nation.

The club say the 29-year-old's new deal will see him stay "for the 2021-22 season and beyond".

Matavesi has made 27 appearances for Saints since joining them from Championship club Cornish Pirates in 2019, scoring three tries.

"We've been thrilled with his development since he joined the club," said director of rugby Chris Boyd.

"We have an exciting crop of hookers in our squad who are all pushing each other to improve every day, and Sam has taken his opportunity in recent months and performed well as a starter."

Quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has meant the Fiji players , who are hoping to win a second successive gold medal, have been operating in a training bubble and will only leave in June to take part in a mini-Oceania sevens tournament against Australia and New Zealand in Townsville -the only international competition Fiji will have played in the 16 months leading into then Tokyo Olympics in July.

With the tournament delayed a year because of Covid-19, games have been reorganised, meaning England's opener now no longer clashes with Wales' opening fixture.

The Welsh will play their opener in 2022 against a team who have come through qualifying the next day.

Scotland and Ireland are still looking to qualify for the women's showpiece.

The changes also see England's match with France brought forward to become their second game.

In the end the compromise, with its Pacific cultural twist, was the best that could be managed after Italy withdrew from its scheduled two-test tour of New Zealand because of concerns and difficulties around travelling under Covid-19 protocols.

The All Blacks will meet Tonga and Fiji (twice) in their three July tests over the first three Saturdays of the month, while the Maori will also line up against Samoa in what should be a high-interest, and historic, double-header at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium on July 3.

Ireland had been scheduled to play two tests in Fiji and one test against Tonga during the July international window.

The trip was already in doubt because of the ongoing border restrictions around the world, which would have required players to quarantine for two weeks on arrival in Fiji.

On Friday the Ireland Rugby Football Union confirmed the tour was off, saying the "recent Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdown in Fiji" had increased the level of risk and it was no longer viable to proceed with the planned tour.

The 34 year-old second rower played club rugby in Wellington and for East Coast in the Heartland Championship before stints with Chambéry and Rouen Normandie in France.

Liana Mua is a close friend of Nemani's partner Francesca Rex-Horoi and started a Givealittle page to help cover the cost of repatriating his body back to Fiji.