2018 June Internationals
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Paltry crowd in Suva. For a double header including their national team v closest traditional rival.
Doesn't fill me with confidence about a Super Rugby expansion team up in Fiji.
I noticed this last year as well. Bumper crowd for the Chiefs v Crusaders. Then small crowds a few weeks later for their June internationals. They had good quality visitors last year iirc including win over tier 1 Italy, but still not many turned up.
I am/was pro getting a team up there. I'm now edging towards was.
I don't think they can sustain the week in week out numbers required. To pay for a top pro team. Although a young Drua-like team churning out young low paid players for a year or two before they move on would still arguably provide more interest some our teams in the S18.
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@rocky-rockbottom Where are you watching that game?
Edit: forget that question, I found a legal stream to watch Japan v Italy:
https://video-it.eurosport.com/rugby/rugby-test-match-giappone-italia_vid1098253/video.shtml
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Full time: Fiji 24 - 22 Samoa
Match (scoring) stats: https://www.worldrugby.org/pnc/match/25892
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 June Internationals:
Japan vs Italy.
Japanese national rugby team with their front row, halfback and that one nippy winger being the only actual Japanese people on the team. All the rest, ring-in Islanders. Jamie Joseph sending a great message to Japan's up and coming young players. "Yeah nah."
Italy do a fantastic impersonation of a test rugby team. They have some burly guys and nice blue jerseys and coloured rugby boots and everything. Walking 10 metres away from EVERY single lineout to have a mini conference then slowly sauntering back to the lineout got real old fast. God they are dogshit. Walk around. Drop it. Stand at some ruck like you just want to go home. Just fuck off then.
They're great to have in the Six nations. It means Scotland don't get a wooden spoon.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 June Internationals:
Japan vs Italy.
Japanese national rugby team with their front row, halfback and that one nippy winger being the only actual Japanese people on the team. All the rest, ring-in Islanders. Jamie Joseph sending a great message to Japan's up and coming young players. "Yeah nah."
Italy do a fantastic impersonation of a test rugby team. They have some burly guys and nice blue jerseys and coloured rugby boots and everything. Walking 10 metres away from EVERY single lineout to have a mini conference then slowly sauntering back to the lineout got real old fast. God they are dogshit. Walk around. Drop it. Stand at some ruck like you just want to go home. Just fuck off then.
They're great to have in the Six nations. It means Scotland don't get a wooden spoon.
@mn5 said in 2018 June Internationals:
@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 June Internationals:
Japan vs Italy.
Japanese national rugby team with their front row, halfback and that one nippy winger being the only actual Japanese people on the team. All the rest, ring-in Islanders. Jamie Joseph sending a great message to Japan's up and coming young players. "Yeah nah."
Italy do a fantastic impersonation of a test rugby team. They have some burly guys and nice blue jerseys and coloured rugby boots and everything. Walking 10 metres away from EVERY single lineout to have a mini conference then slowly sauntering back to the lineout got real old fast. God they are dogshit. Walk around. Drop it. Stand at some ruck like you just want to go home. Just fuck off then.
They're great to have in the Six nations. It means Scotland don't get a wooden spoon.
Or England this season
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I have added this weekend's results to the table in the first post of this thread.
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That was the result JP needed, hopefully they can keep it up, and don’t get completely ass-raped by the ABs and England later in the year. If they can show improvement thry’ll Ride the same wave as the Japanese team during the soccer World Cup here.
In the WC, They have someone they can’t get past (Ireland I think) and two teams they should beat (Russia and a qualifier), so it all comes down to the Scots game. We’re still trying to get tickets....
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It's a shame Russia is there - they are not very good, but basically got in because better teams fielded 1 or 2 ineligible players. They will be destroyed by all the teams in their pool.
Reckon Japan can definitely beat Scotland.
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It's a shame Russia is there - they are not very good, but basically got in because better teams fielded 1 or 2 ineligible players. They will be destroyed by all the teams in their pool.
Reckon Japan can definitely beat Scotland.
@billy-tell said in 2018 June Internationals:
It's a shame Russia is there - they are not very good, but basically got in because better teams fielded 1 or 2 ineligible players. They will be destroyed by all the teams in their pool.
Reckon Japan can definitely beat Scotland.
No fucken way.
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Former Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson is now heading to Scotland not Wasps
Fingers crossed he doesn't live up to his namesakes
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/former-cardiff-blues-coach-danny-14773156
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@mn5 said in 2018 June Internationals:
@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 June Internationals:
Japan vs Italy.
Japanese national rugby team with their front row, halfback and that one nippy winger being the only actual Japanese people on the team. All the rest, ring-in Islanders. Jamie Joseph sending a great message to Japan's up and coming young players. "Yeah nah."
Italy do a fantastic impersonation of a test rugby team. They have some burly guys and nice blue jerseys and coloured rugby boots and everything. Walking 10 metres away from EVERY single lineout to have a mini conference then slowly sauntering back to the lineout got real old fast. God they are dogshit. Walk around. Drop it. Stand at some ruck like you just want to go home. Just fuck off then.
They're great to have in the Six nations. It means Scotland don't get a wooden spoon.
Or England this season
@mikethesnow said in 2018 June Internationals:
@mn5 said in 2018 June Internationals:
@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 June Internationals:
Japan vs Italy.
Japanese national rugby team with their front row, halfback and that one nippy winger being the only actual Japanese people on the team. All the rest, ring-in Islanders. Jamie Joseph sending a great message to Japan's up and coming young players. "Yeah nah."
Italy do a fantastic impersonation of a test rugby team. They have some burly guys and nice blue jerseys and coloured rugby boots and everything. Walking 10 metres away from EVERY single lineout to have a mini conference then slowly sauntering back to the lineout got real old fast. God they are dogshit. Walk around. Drop it. Stand at some ruck like you just want to go home. Just fuck off then.
They're great to have in the Six nations. It means Scotland don't get a wooden spoon.
Or England this season
Fucked.
Get.
You.Please re-organise above.
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Fiji squad to take on Georgia:
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Ratu Vere Vugakoto
3 Manasa Saulo
4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
5 Leone Nakarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7 Akapusi Qera (C)
8 Viliame Mata
9 Henry Seniloli
10 Ben Volavola
11 Nemani Nadolo
12 Jale Vatubua
13 Semi Radradra
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves:
16 Ratunaisa Navuma
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Kalivati Tawake
19 Sikeli Nabou
20 Nemani Nagusa
21 Frank Lomani
22 Alivereti Veitokani
23 Timoci Nagusahttps://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/electric-backline-ready-to-fly/
Semi Radradra to make his debut and Nadolo has arrived as well. This should be a good game. Hopefully, Fiji will be more disciplined than in last week's game. I think they had 3 players sent off with a YC.
The Georgian squad can be found here.
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Manu Samoa team to play Tonga:
1 Jordan Lay
2 Seilala Lam
3 Viliamu Afatia
4 Joe Tekori
5 Chris Vui (c)
6 Piula Faasalele
7 TJ Ioane
8 Jack Lam
9 Dwayne Polataivao
10 Tusi Pisi
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Alapati Leiua
13 Alofa Alofa
14 Paul Perez
15 Ah See TualaBench:
16 Elia Elia
17 James Lay
18 Paul Alo-Emile
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Ofisa Treviranus
21 Melani Matavao
22 Rodney Iona
23 Ed FidowInjured Players:
1 Logovii Mulipola
2 Rey Lee-Lo -
Fiji squad to take on Georgia:
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Ratu Vere Vugakoto
3 Manasa Saulo
4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
5 Leone Nakarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7 Akapusi Qera (C)
8 Viliame Mata
9 Henry Seniloli
10 Ben Volavola
11 Nemani Nadolo
12 Jale Vatubua
13 Semi Radradra
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves:
16 Ratunaisa Navuma
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Kalivati Tawake
19 Sikeli Nabou
20 Nemani Nagusa
21 Frank Lomani
22 Alivereti Veitokani
23 Timoci Nagusahttps://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/electric-backline-ready-to-fly/
Semi Radradra to make his debut and Nadolo has arrived as well. This should be a good game. Hopefully, Fiji will be more disciplined than in last week's game. I think they had 3 players sent off with a YC.
The Georgian squad can be found here.
@stargazer said in 2018 June Internationals:
Fiji squad to take on Georgia:
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Ratu Vere Vugakoto
3 Manasa Saulo
4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
5 Leone Nakarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7 Akapusi Qera (C)
8 Viliame Mata
9 Henry Seniloli
10 Ben Volavola
11 Nemani Nadolo
12 Jale Vatubua
13 Semi Radradra
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves:
16 Ratunaisa Navuma
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Kalivati Tawake
19 Sikeli Nabou
20 Nemani Nagusa
21 Frank Lomani
22 Alivereti Veitokani
23 Timoci Nagusahttps://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/electric-backline-ready-to-fly/
Semi Radradra to make his debut and Nadolo has arrived as well. This should be a good game. Hopefully, Fiji will be more disciplined than in last week's game. I think they had 3 players sent off with a YC.
The Georgian squad can be found here.
Important match.
Georgia and Fiji in same WC Group along with Wales and Australia.
Fiji has beaten Wales at WC, Georgia ran Wales close in Autumn 2017
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Tonga squad to play Samoa:
15 David Halaifonua, 14 Viliami Lolohea, 13 Nafi Tu’itavake, 12 Siale Piutau (c), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 Sitiveni Mafi, 5 Joe Tu’ineau, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Siua Halanukonuka, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Replacements:
16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 David Feao, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Valentino Mapapalangi, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Suke Tuumotooa, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 Sione Fifita
