Wales v Fiji preview: Seremai Bai
The Fijian camp is confident of upsetting the form book once again when they tackle Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow night in an Invesco Perpetual clash. (KO 7.30)
Fiji caused the upset of the 2007 World Cup tournament when they stunned Wales in Nantes. There are three survivors from that match in the Fijian side, including vice captain Seremai Bai.
Although Fiji have made wholesale changes to the side which lost to France last weekend, Bai is confident Fiji can cause Warren Gatland’s men a few headaches.
“We’ve got a lot of players coming in to the side, especially young players but is good for us going forward, we’ll just give it our best shot. The coaches want to have look at the other boys.”
“It’s very, very important to us to get a win because building up towards the World Cup if we could pull off a win, that would provide a huge boost to the boys.
“We may have a few new guys in the team but that doesn’t worry me too much because they have been playing for their clubs and playing against some of the best players in the world in the UK”.
WALES: Lee Byrne; George North, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Aled Brew; Dan Biggar, Richie Rees; Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Paul James, Ian Gough, Deiniol Jones, Ryan Jones (Capt), Dan Lydiate/Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Bradley Davies, Toby Faletau, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin
FIJI: J Matavesi (Exeter Chiefs) ; M Tagicakibau (Saracens), A Vulivuli (Racing Metro), G Lovobalavu (Toulon), V Goneva (Colomiers); S Bai (Castres), N Kenatale (Nawsori); C Ma’afu (West Harbour Pirates), V Veikoso (Nadi), D Manu (captain, Scarlets), I Rawaqa (Toyota Shokki), J Qovu (Racing Metro), S Saukawa (World Fighting Bulls), M Ravulo (North Harbour), S Koyamaibole (Sale Sharks).
Replacements : T Talemaitoga (Woodland), G Dewes (Counties Manukau Steelers), S Qaraniqio Kalou (Otago), A Qera (Gloucester Rugby), S Taka (Veilomani), R Ratu (Aurillac), T Rawaqa (Saunaka)
Graeme Gillespie