Up against it from the start with none of their overseas stars playing in France and England available for the game at Murrayfield, the Fijians conceded 26 points without reply in the opening quarter and had picked up two yellow cards before the break. They eventually lost by a record score of 57-15, conceding eight tries.
But that was then, and this weekend Byrne has been able to pick his northern hemisphere-based stars. Fiji have made four changes and one positional switch to their backline as they welcome back several experienced players for the autumn international test against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.
Vuate Karawalevu moves from the wing to fullback, with Jiuta Wainiqolo taking his place in the No14 jersey. Waisea Nayacalevu and Josua Tuisova take over as the centre-pairing, with Semi Radradra also coming into the team on the opposite wing.
There are also two changes to the pack with Temo Mayanavanua in at lock and Saracens prop Eroni Mawi getting a run. Both teams will have four players who started in the last game between the two sides at the 2023 World Cup in Bordeaux back in the line-ups.
None of the Welsh back line has survived, but Gareth Thomas, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Aaron Wainwright all return up front. Ryan Elias, Jac Morgan, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow and Tommy Reffell were also involved last year.
For the Fijians, skipper Waisea Nayacalevu, now at Sale Sharks, is joined by Toulon’s Semi Radradra, scrum half Frank Lomani, Mawi and lock Isola Nasilasila as the returnees. Tevita Ikanivere, Josua Tuisova, Sam Matavesi and Temo Mayanavanua were also all involved in the Bordeaux classic.
Fiji’s only previous victory over Wales in 14 tests came at the 2007 World Cup in France, though they did manage a draw in Cardiff in 2010.
“We know Wales are going to ask a lot of questions of us, they’re going to come hard at us, and we need to be ready for that and compete. From the point of pressure, there’s always pressure, the big one for us is to get our game right and start the game well,” said Byrne.
“The biggest thing for us is the way we started last week, it wasn’t good enough and we let ourselves down. I thought we came back into it well in the second part of the first half and the beginning of the second half, but we left ourselves with too much work to do.
“We couldn’t get any sort of control in the game. One of the positives moving forward from that game is we’ve given a lot of players the opportunity to play for the Flying Fijians and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the depth within our rugby programme.
“We knew that the Scotland game was outside the window and that we were going to be missing our Northern Hemisphere players, but this is now the strongest side we could’ve picked at the moment. We’ve got a good block of experience that’s come in, especially in the back line.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the midfield and wing combinations that come out of the World Cup last year. A couple of our forwards have come back in as well.
“We know that this is the sort of the side that the Flying Fijians are going to be able to present as one of their best sides this year.
“We’ve got some good carry if we need to get across the gain line nice and early, we’ve got some strength there. We’ve got some great deception and running lines outside.”
Fiji: Vuate Karawalevu; Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra; Caleb Muntz, Frank Lomani; Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere, Sam Tawake, Isola Nasilasila, Temo Mayanavanua, Meli Derenalagi, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata
Reps: Sam Matavesi, Haereiti Hetet, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Albert Tuisue, Simi Kuruvoli, Isaiah Ravula, Sireli Maqala
