Far flung Fijians gel through faith

Fijian World Cup captain Deacon Manu. Photo / Joel Ford

Fiji's strong Christian heritage had helped bind the side together since their arrival in New Zealand last week from all parts of the globe, captain Deacon Manu has revealed.

Fiji, the first foreign team to arrive in New Zealand ahead of the Rugby World Cup, have been holding nightly church services in a bid to quickly build a bond.

The 30-strong squad features 21 overseas-based players, including Manu, who has played more than 100 matches for Llanelli since moving to Wales from New Zealand in 2006.

Manu grew up in Taranaki but played for Waikato and the Chiefs. He has played for Fiji since 2009, qualifying through his Fiji-born mum, Maureen.

The 32-year-old said that, while the Fijians' reputations internationally were as take-no-prisoners, physically imposing players, their softer side off the field had helped them gel.

"It's a team literally from around the globe - all over Europe, Japan, France, New Zealand and Australia, as well as quite a few of us in the UK - and logistically it has been a bit of a nightmare getting us all in one place at one time," Manu said.

"We've prepared physically and mentally as best we can, but also spiritually which has helped create some close ties together.

"Church services are important for us as a team. Training hard and then a church service has brought us close.

"We are a team that play hard but we always take that spiritual aspect with us on to the field; it's part of the Fiji culture. It's different to a lot of other teams but it's a huge part of the guys' growing up."

Fiji spent their first week in Ohope, where former New Zealand Rugby Union councillor Dick Littlejohn and revered sevens coach Gordon Tietjens visited them. A crowd of 300 greeted the team at Auckland International Airport last week but Manu said many thousands more were backing the team in the islands.

Fiji will play in Pool D at the World Cup, with South Africa, Wales, Namibia and Samoa. Their opening game on Saturday is against Namibia at Rotorua International Stadium.

Manu said the side's 38-34 win over Wales at the 2007 World Cup would ensure they weren't dismissed as lightweights.

"I watched that game on TV in Wales and it was a classic, although you'd never guess it judging by the reaction of the Welsh, who took the loss hard. Drawing with them last November [14-14] means Wales are aware of the Fiji threat.

"Similarly though, while people are looking at Namibia [as minnows], there's a danger in doing that. We took Tonga in that respect in the Pacific Nations Cup and got taught a lesson.

"Expectation back home is huge as you'd expect from a rugby nation but it's a tough pool and won't be easy to advance.

South Africa are current world champions, Samoa beat Aussie in their last test and the Welsh beat England.

"Two out of the four teams would make it in any other pool."

Manu and his family had been based in Fiji since June, allowing the prop to connect with extended family he'd never met.

"My oldest boy went to school for two months and the kids ran around barefoot. Coming from a Welsh winter it was great to experience life as real Fijians."

Fiji coach Sam Domoni said they had worked hard on their discipline, with their scrummaging also coming under scrutiny after their 60-14 loss to the All Blacks in June.

Manu said keeping the players' emotions in check in the countdown to Saturday would be the biggest task. "A lot of these guys have played in New Zealand or grown up in New Zealand.

"It's the closest we'll get to a home World Cup and any time we play for our country is emotional, with the added incentive of being in New Zealand and a World Cup.

"A World Cup brings out the best in players but for Fijians it's an emotional time.

"For us it's about keeping those emotions in check and getting our heads in the right space early on - we need to be thinking rather than fuelled by emotion."