Your team will be as strong as the players you pick.
That is the statement of former Wallaby and Fiji’s 2007 Rugby World Cup coach, Ilivasi Tabua as the Fiji Rugby Union board gets ready to sit on Thursday to decide on the future of Fiji rugby after our disappointing performance in the 2011 RWC.
Tabua has rightly predicted Fiji’s performance before all of its pool games, based on the players selected to play in the matches.
He said team selection is very important and the right people, who have the knowledge on the skill level and standards, should be deciding on who wears the Fiji jersey.
There are also indications that the 8 coaches and assistant coaches Fiji had in this World Cup were giving different messages to the players.
In an interview with Fijivillage last week, 1999 Fiji coach Brad Johnstone said he had spoken to some players who had confirmed this.
Ilivasi Tabua who was the head coach in 2007 said he had made it clear back then that he was in charge - as he did not want any mixed messages to the team.
A 19 member official team went with the 30 member Fiji team to NZ.
The coaching panel for Fiji in this Rugby World Cup was made up of 8 people.
This included Samu Domoni Junior as coach, Shannon Fraser as back line coach, Greg Mumm as forwards coach, Naca Cawanibuka as Head Strength and Conditioning coach, Michael Foley as scrum coach, Mosese Rauluni as halfback coach, David Dwyer as Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach and Reverend Joji Rinakama as Assistant Forwards coach.
The remaining official team included a psychologist, a video analyst, two physiotherapists, a Manager, a Logistics Manager, an Administrator, an Assistant Manager and a Media Manager.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Right people should select the best national team
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