Fiji's Seremaia Bai scores a try during their Rugby World Cup match against Wales. Photo / Reuters
MARSEILLE - Fiji have gone for the experience of Seremaia Bai to replace injured Nicky Little at first five-eighth for their World Cup rugby quarterfinal against South Africa on Monday morning (NZT).
Coach Ilie Tabua announced a team today showing two other personnel changes from the side who
beat Wales 38-34 last week to secure their place in the last eight.
Little damaged knee ligaments late in that game and is a huge loss for the Fijians, already outsiders for the elimination match.
Bai, who played centre against Wales, switches to first-five, with 22-year-old Waisea Luveniyali, who won his second cap in the pool game against Australia, on the bench as cover.
"He's our obvious choice, we have some options but he has experience there," Tabua said.
Norman Ligairi comes in at fullback with Kameli Ratuvou moving into the midfield for Bai but at 13, with Seru Rabeni, awesome against Wales, switching to 12.
Sireli Bobo starts on the left wing while Henry Qiodravu comes in at prop as Tabua continues his front row rotation policy, Jone Railomo dropping to the bench.
The Fijians, in their first quarterfinal since the inaugural World Cup in 1987, are well aware that they are huge outsiders but were unfazed.
"We need a better performance than last week, we need to play the perfect game. If we can do that, the result will come its way," Tabua said.
Captain Mosese Rauluni said his team had no problems with being written off.
"I think we were expecting that," he said.
"South Africa are a world-class team, they have a great set piece, a great backline and real pace out wide.
"They've got every right to be confident but our boys have got confidence in themselves.
"We could take a lot of confidence out of the Welsh game but there's areas we need to fix up - the scrum being the big thing.
"They're having some injury trouble in the front row, but they've still got some big boys to call on. Unfortunately Fiji is lacking in the prop area.
"We've got tricks to keep it away from them. We need to keep possession away from them."
Rauluni, though, promised that South Africa, pushed by Tonga in the pool phase, would have to work all the way if they were going to get through.
"It's a different team to what I'm used to playing in Fiji," he said.
"In the past, they've fallen away in the last 10-15 minutes. But this team has been going the 80 in three big games.
"I've got all confidence they'll go the full 80 against South Africa."
- REUTERS
