Fiji look to sevens genius Serevi

Always presuming the relaid Lansdowne Road pitch survives the incessant downpours of late, the sizeable crowd anticipated for Sunday's game between Ireland and Fiji will have the additional little treat of seeing the sevens genius Waisale Serevi, whose skills could illuminate the greyest of days.

Presumably, it will be a last sighting as well, though such is the spark Serevi still provides that the evergreen Fijian, reckoned to be 34, has been recalled to the starting line-up after scoring a late pitch-length try against Wales last Saturday following his introduction in the second half.

"Joseph Nahruhn, the guy who started against Wales, has been training very well and looks very sharp, but I just think perhaps that Serevi might just bring that little bit extra," explained the Fiji coach Mac McCallion yesterday.

"He's got that X-factor and hopefully he might be able to expose the Irish defence on Sunday. We found it hard to penetrate the well-organised Welsh back line last Saturday and we've got to raise the bar there."

Serevi had the audacity to score a try from 70 metres out last Saturday and McCallion commented: "He's getting on a little bit, but by crikey he's still got the skills and the speed."

There are two other changes to the side beaten by seven tries to two in Wales, with Harlequins centre Villiame Satala having been released by his club to belatedly link up with his international colleagues yesterday, while Sisa Koyamaibole, one of Fiji's three forwards based in Japan, was called into a re-jigged backrow which sees Aliferati Mocelutu moving from number eight to the blindside at the expense of Seta Towake.

"Satala was our number one choice prior to the tour and only just now he's been released," said a palpably disgruntled McCallion, who also bemoaned the absence of four of Fiji's Super 12 players who have not been released by their New Zealand provinces.

The back-rowers, admits the Fijian coach, are "pretty much of the same standard. You'll find that Seta Towake will get a run on at some stage. Mocelutu has been playing very well and so has Sisa, but there's not much in it."

Fiji will not be particularly enamoured with the rainfall which has bedevilled their stay here, and yesterday they abandoned their planned outdoor session in the morning for some indoor work at DLSP's ground in Kilternan.

"We've got to adapt," reasoned McCallion. "It's the same for Northern Hemisphere teams when they head down to Australia next year for the World Cup. Things are going to be difficult down there, with the heat and humidity etc. So it's a matter of adapting."

As with all other tourists to Europe this month, their trek is primarily geared toward preparing for the World Cup where they are seeded third in their pool behind France and Scotland. They'll also meet Japan as well as a repechage qualifier, a complicated back door route to the finals in which the USA Eagles await either Russia or Tunisia.

Given the Fijians have already played two games in Wales, and finish their tour with games against Scotland A and a Test against Scotland, it is a particularly good barometer for them.

"We've learned a lot so far, I can assure you of that," says McCallion. "We came over here with high expectations, we've been sat on our backside, that's for sure, but at the end of this tour we need to gauge what we need to do for the Rugby World Cup. There are lessons to be learned, there are lessons already being learned and we want to take all this on board."

One of the main lessons arising from their defeat to Wales was the need for discipline, as Fiji became frustrated with a first-half penalty count of 11-1 against them which ultimately finished at 20-7.

McCallion had wrongly anticipated that the Welsh would seek to take the Fijians on up front. "I expect Ireland will do that but they can also move the ball wide now and I'm expecting a bit of everything in the game. And we want to be the same."

The IRFU yesterday moved to dispel fears that the fixture might be in danger when a spokesperson said: "The game is not in doubt." Nevertheless, more heavy rain was forecast overnight.

FIJI(v Ireland): W Serevi (Stade Montois); F Lasagavibau (Northland), V Satala (Harlequins), S Bai (Southland), N Ligairi (Southland); N Little (Saracens), J Rauluni (Rotherham); R Nyholt ( Queensland University), G Smith (Waikato. captain), B Cavubati (Masterton); Api Naevo (Kaneka), S Raiwalui (Newport); A Mocelutu (Neath), A Doviverata (Yamaha), S Koyamaibole (Toyota Skokki). Replacements: P Bai (Nadroga), I Rasila (Nadroga), I Rawaqa (Lautoka), S Tawake (Suva), S Rabaka (Nadi), J Narruhn (Hino) I Mow (Suva).