'Tonga is Pacific team to watch' says Fiji captain

Tonga will be the team to watch in the Pacific Islands World Cup qualifying series, says Fiji captain Greg Smith.

The series kicks off with Fiji playing Samoa in Apia on June 1.

Smith said that Fijian fans were only concentrating on Samoa, who over the years have been Fiji's toughest opponents.

But equal focus needed to go on Tonga.

Smith said Tonga would be a real threat after appointing former Australian backline coach Jim Love as their new coach.

Love is highly respected in rugby circles, having worked alongside former Wallaby and Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer in the early 90s.

"I think people back home are only focused on Samoa, but Tonga will be a real threat this year," Smith said.

"They are being coached by Jim Love and with his experience they will be the team to beat in the tri-nations series."

Love has close ties with the island nation. He coached star Tongan players Willie Ofa'hegaue and Fili Finau in the Wallaby team.

Former Wallaby and national rep Ilivasi Tabua also trained under Love.

Smith said Samoa should not be a problem for Fiji. He said they were basically the same team that Fiji defeated on two of three outings last year.

"No, I don't think the inclusion of a lot of overseas players is a problem. "They are roughly the same team as last year," Smith said.'"And two out of three times we showed them that we were the better of the two."

Smith praised new Fiji coach New Zealander Mac McCallion.

"We have to remember the financial constraints ... to get top players over or begin preparations early. But despite these factors, Mac has been doing a great job."

* Former Wallaby centre and twice World Cup winner Tim Horan believes Queensland's Steve Kefu should be Australia's second five-eighths at next year's World Cup.

Australia's regular No 12 Nathan Grey has suffered a serious knee injury and will miss the series against Six Nations champions France next month, and the Tri-Nations series which follows against South Africa and New Zealand.

"Even if Nathan Grey wasn't injured, young Steve Kefu would be my choice at inside centre," Horan said yesterday.

"He has that sleight of hand with the ball. He can put on 5kg or 6kg and there are 17 or 18 tests before the cup to give him experience.

"He's a player with a real future."

Kefu, 22, made his test debut last year against Wales, starting at centre alongside his 28-year-old brother, Toutai.

Stirling Mortlock, Elton Flatley, Rod Kafer and Grey have all worn the No 12 shirt for the Wallabies after Horan's retirement from test rugby in August 2000.

Horan, 32, won 80 caps. He has since played two seasons with London club Saracens and is planning a third.

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