Tevita Ikanivere on the run with Luke Tagi in support at training in Marseille. Photo: Fiji Rugby
The Flying Fijians are preparing for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against England, with mixed challenges within their team camp this week.
On the downside, hooker Sam Matavesi left the team's hotel in Marseille on Wednesday after hearing about the death of his father, Sireli, also a former Flying Fijian.
Matavesi has been given time off to be with his family, team assistant coach Seremaia Bai told media in Marseille on Thursday morning.
Matavesi is the second Fijian player to have lost a loved one while the team is at the Rugby World Cup. Winger Josua Tuisova lost his son after a long illness in Fiji two weeks ago.
On a positive note, the team are welcoming lock forward Api Ratuniyarawa back into camp. He has been called in to replace Temo Mayanavanua, who was injured in the match against Portugal last weekend.
And the team were happy to receive the message that the Fijian government has approved a second bonus payment, after they secured their quarter-final spot.
This is the second payment of $FJ5000 ($NZ3643) per player and official in the team.
Teti Tela drives through the defence in training in Marseille. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Grief within team
Bai said the team had become a close-knit family and shared Matavesi's grief.
"The team would like to send our condolences to Sam [Matavesi] and the family.
"He has been one of our senior leaders.
"We will see in the coming days if he is going to join us. He is back in England," he said.
In Fiji, family is everything, Bai said.
"We have been 15 weeks away from our families since we started this campaign, so... this becomes our family.
"If one suffers, we all suffer. In Fiji we are kind of a family, even if we are from different provinces. We become very close.
"We know the players and the families come from humble beginnings and we make sure there is the care and the love that they need. It is a very tough moment ,but we need to stay together and care for one another."
Loose forward Ratuniyarawa, who was with the team before taking up a club offer with Bayonne in France, joins the team at a critical stage, with the injured Mayanavanua now ruled out.
Mayanavanua has been a regular in the campaign so far.
Bai said they were happy to welcome Ratuniyarawa back.
Flying Fijians assistant coach Seremiah Bai, left, with Vilive Miramira at a press conference in Marseille ahead of the quarterfinal match against England. Photo: Fiji Rugby
'Sick come alive': Fijians excited
The Flying Fijians are playing in their first quarter-final in 16 years, with France being their last lucky break in 2007.
Bai said making into the quater-finals had caused a lot of excitement back home, especially being the only tier two nation in the last eight.
"I don't call it excitement - I think 'crazy'. Just like in England, passionate about rugby, same as a little island in Fiji, everyone gets up at three or five o'clock in the morning," he said.
"People who are sick come alive when we win games. We've just got to make sure that we not only play for a certain quarter-final, we just play for our own people - young kids, people in the village - it means a lot to them.
"Everybody's excited. I know that comes with disappointment along the way, but 16 years ago we made the quarterfinal and now we're here where no one even gave a possibility for us to make it. We're going to make the most of it."
He said Fiji, as a tier two nation, did not often get the opportunity to play against tier one nations, such as England.
"Here we are, the only tier 2 nation that made these quarter-finals and it's something we should be proud of. It's not going to be easy, but hey, what a great opportunity for us to come against England."
England focus
Having pushed aside the disappointment of losing to Portugal, Bai said the team had worked on areas identified as weaknesses.
"We were pretty disappointed, but we got into the quarterfinal, which is not an easy task, but we are excited at the same time," Bai told media.
"Probably [one] month ago, we played England and we get confidence from that game that we can compete with them and beat England for the first time at Twickenham in August.
"We just re-grouped and talked about the positives and we are looking forward to playing this weekend. If you look at our game at the weekend, we just need to keep hold of the ball.
"Building phases, being patient, ball carrying - those fundamentals. I think we can move the ball around better on the field. That is something we talked about coming out of last weekend's game."
He said having ball hunters like Levani Botia in the contact area was good, but they needed to avoid giving away soft penalties.
"We're known for trying to get our hands on the ball, but England will try to get the ball away from us," he said.
"I think it is very important that we have Botia and some of our loosies [loose forwards] who are very good at the breakdown.
"But it's a balance with not giving away soft penalties. It is going to be a really good battle, because some of their players are very good at that breakdown area."
He said England had some good kickers and Fiji needed to ensure that was countered.
"It's a balance between running the ball and kicking the ball. We know they have threats all over the park, with the quality of their kicking," Bai said of England.
"We just have to make sure that we cover those kicking-battle scenarios and then balance it up with when we will try to run it to counter those kicking battles."
The team will have a rest day on Thursday in France, before rounding off their preparation on Friday.
Jiuta Wainiqolo attacks with the ball at training. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Wallabies legend Campo picks Fiji
Former Wallabies great David Campese has picked Fiji ahead of England in the team's quarter-final clash, but said Fiji would need to play their own brand of rugby.
"My message to Fiji is simple - start being Fiji again. Remember your rugby DNA and play with the freedom your talents need," he told Planet Rugby.
"Sure, they've become a lot better in structure, but at times I feel they've held back too much when the opposition would be far more threatened by Fiji running the ball around the park.
"They have amazing athletes and England don't score as many points as others, relying upon a good defence and set-piece to keep the board moving forward, so Fiji need to let rip, start hot and run hard."
Campese said the field at the Stade de Marseille would suit the Fijians, who loved to run the ball hard along the backline.
"Again, this is in Marseille, a tiny pitch with only 15 metres between the 22 and 10-metre lines, so it rewards sides that get pace on the attack in the middle third of the park.
"England have a dilemma. It has to be an either or with (George) Ford and (Owen) Farrell. They lost too much in both attack and defence by playing Manu Tuilagi at 13.
"Can Fiji do it? I think they can and will. England are not big scorers and Fiji have the firepower to take the game away from them. I see this as an eight-point win for the Islanders in the upset of the tournament ending the journey of (Steve) Borthwick's men."
Fiji meets England on Monday at 3am Fiji Time or 4am in New Zealand.
