Fijian players are among the hottest currency in international rugby which is why the Wallabies are on edge at facing a fully loaded national team at the Rugby World Cup.
Utility back Matt Toomua has called for all hands on deck to stop the Pacific islanders from pulling off a momentous upset in their Rugby World Cup opener in Sapporo on Saturday.
Toomua’s three seasons at English club Leicester gave him an insight into how Pasifika athletes are valued in Europe, and France in particular, with Fijians providing strike power at numerous top clubs.
It’s not just in the backs either, with the 29-year-old convinced that “phenomenal” Paris-based lock Leone Nakarawa is among the best players he has seen.
Toomua said there is a reason the Fijian sevens team – with Nakarawa prominent – won the Rio Olympics gold medal and stressed the importance of Australia’s defensive line restricting space.
“Anyone who watches rugby, whether it be in Europe or in the Southern Hemisphere, knows that the Fijians individually have brilliant feet, they’re very strong and have great offloads,” he said.
“These guys are powerful men but can also step you as well, so they’re a dual or triple threat there.
“Any time you get them one-on-one you might be struggling a little bit, so we have to make sure guys are working together in packs of three.”
Australia have the second-biggest contingent of Fijian-born players at the Cup, with four.
Three of them will start against their countrymen in what could be an emotional occasion for winger Marika Koroibete, inside centre Samu Kerevi and No.8 Isi Naisarani.
The trio, who are making their World Cup debuts, all originate from small villages.
Koroibete said those closest to him could be torn over their support.
“It will be hard for my family back home to (pick) which team to cheer for, but there will be some cheering for me,” he said.
“Australia gave me an opportunity to pursue my dream and they have given me a lot. It will be a bit weird playing against Fiji, but I will give everything.”
One fascinating rivalry will be between former rugby league stars Koroibete and Semi Radradra, who will be key figures on opposite wings.
Koroibete was the pick of Wallabies in their final lead-up Test win over Samoa while Radradra is Fiji’s deadliest attacker.
Their NRL careers overlapped for four seasons but they only marked each other twice, in 2015 and 2016, when Koroibete’s Melbourne Storm beat Radradra’s Parramatta Eels. The future Wallaby also bagged a try in both games.
They were once teammates in the international 13-man code, playing three games together for the Bati at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. It ended with an unceremonious 64-0 hammering from Australia in the semi-finals.
Radradra also played a lone Test for the Kangaroos, spending an early stint in the sin bin in their 2016 defeat of New Zealand in Newcastle.