Flying Fijians

The visitors trailed 10-3 with 27 minutes remaining at a sold-out Teufaiva Stadium but cut the deficit to two points with a try from Leone Nakarawa before Ben Volavola slotted two penalty goals in the final quarter of an hour to secure a hard fought win.

Flying Fijians coach John McKee said securing the top qualifying berth was their key focus this year.

McKee has stressed how important this match would be for them and that they are expecting a very physical encounter with Tonga.

He says this match against Tonga is very important for them in terms of their Rugby World Cup qualification and to achieve their goal of finishing as Oceania No 1.

McKee says Tonga played very well in winning against Samoa last week which will give them a lot of confidence coming into this match and they will backed by a very loud local crowd.

Olympic Sevens gold medallist Josua Tuisova, who plies his trade at French giants Toulon, has been selected on the right wing, while Mosese Ducivaki, Sikeli Nabou and John Stewart are all included on the bench for the match at ANZ Stadium.

There are five furtherchanges to the starting fifteen with Sunia Koto, Tevita Cavubati, Peceli Yato, Patrick Osborne and Albert Vulivuli also getting an opportunity.

RNZI reports Eremasi Radrodro has been rewarded with a start at number eight after scoring the match-winning try against Tonga at the weekend.

Api Ratuniyarawa starts at lock, with Leone Nakarawa moving to blindslide flanker and Naulia Dawai to the openside.

Henry Seniloli gets the nod at halfback among three changes to the backline, with Seremaia Bai moving into first five and Eroni Vasiteri filling the vacancy at inside centre.

The other newcomer is Waisea Nayacalevu on the right wing, with Patrick Osborne switching to the left.

Matson said this was one area which let the team down in the first two games of the 2015 Rugby World Cup – against England and Australia.

“Discipline is critical at this level. You cannot get away with things at Rugby World Cup,” the former Fijian and New Zealand international said.

“Discipline has let us down against the big teams. They consequently lead six to nine points and we end up chasing the game,” Matson said.

He predicts the Fijians would provide a tough challenge against Wales in Cardiff on Friday.

The France-based flyer will partner Gabiriele Lovobalavu as McKee selected his strongest side to tackle the physical Samoans.

He said the team named reflected the importance of the Samoa game balancing game-time for the players in the lead-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

McKee believed the players selected would put an end to the below par second half performance the side displayed against the Maori All Blacks, Samoa and Japan earlier this season.

"Our focus on key areas of the game must improve after halftime.

The rivalry between the two teams has been in existence since they first met during the 1924 Test in Apia, Samoa, where Fiji won 6-0.

The two sides have played on 47 occasions with Fiji winning 26 games to Samoa's 19. Both sides have recorded two draws in 1988 and 1982.

The national side also recorded their biggest score line against Samoa in 1996 encounter where Fiji handed Samoa one of its heaviest defeats 60-0 at the National Stadium in Suva.

However, despite Fiji's winning record, the national side has been winless in their past four meetings.