Fiji coach prepared to learn the hard way

Johnny Watterson talks to Mac McCallion, who views Sunday's international as part of a long build-up to next year's World Cup

Mac McCallion fits the bill as a former Maori captain. Socks pulled up outside his tracksuit, the dark moustache and black hair drooping in the dank air around the back pitch in Lansdowne Road, McCallion brings with him a hard-bitten wisdom as Fiji's recently appointed coach.

Far from talking up Fijian hopes of a success against Ireland after shipping what he calls "a good old-fashioned hiding" from Wales last Saturday, McCallion is more focused on looking a year down the line at the World Cup finals in Australia.

If he didn't know it would be tough when he took on the job last April, the straight-talking Kiwi is aware of it now. It can be safely said that the nature of the professional game and its demands on players is not treating Fijian rugby well.

"We've got a big problem regarding players getting released to come back and play for Fiji," says McCallion.

"When the guys go away, they go all around the world. We've players in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and France. You name the country and we've got players there.

"They go on condition that if they are eligible and good enough, they must be released, but we are having quite a few problems with these guys getting released by their clubs.

"Our biggest problem has been Harlequins with Villiame Satala (centre). They said they never got release forms from Fiji Rugby Union.

"But they knew he was a national representative long before he signed and they knew about the tour. It's very, very frustrating as a coach because he's not the only one.

"There are some players in New Zealand and their Super 12 contracts are in jeopardy if they go on tour with us. We still haven't got some our top players with us for those reasons. We're supposed to have these boys two weeks before a test match and Villi (Satala) is just coming in today."

McCallion's contract will take him through to the World Cup. The proximity of that competition forced Fiji to look harder at their 15-man game and when they sought a coach with Super 12 and NPC (National Provincial Championship) experience, McCallion fitted the bill. His Maori experience both as a loose forward and coach was also a cultural fit for the job.

Three consecutive Super 12 finals between 1996 and 1999 as assistant to Graham Henry with the Auckland Blues was followed by a two-year stint in Italy, where he coached Viadana. His record was polished enough for a first national job.

The 58-14 defeat to Wales disappointed McCallion and his team, despite various obstructions to their preparation for the game.

Fiji managed to beat Pontypool 74-16 on the Monday before the game against Wales, even though some of their players only arrived on the Sunday.

"We were very disappointed with the Welsh match. To be honest, we thought we'd be in for a good show, especially after the Pontypool match and Wales' performance against Romania," says McCallion.

"They shut us down. Their defensive pattern was very good, we couldn't penetrate it and they beat us out of it.

"I'm well aware of how the Irish defence performed against Australia and I'm sure we're going to have the same problem."

The lack of co-operation from club sides is not the only difficulty facing Fiji. McCallion says the more he travels, the more apparent it becomes that Fiji are back packers in a five-star rugby world.

"It is quite amazing really when I see the resources some of these teams have," he says.

"They've management and coaches and assistant coaches, defensive coaches, video analysis, masseurs, doctors and physios.

"After the Welsh game when I walked into the media centre, they handed me a sheet with all the stats from the match. I was blown away. I don't have a doctor or an assistant coach."

Ireland are big favourites to win against a side who enjoy hard ground and sevens rugby more than the 15-man game on yielding turf.

They may well have to learn another hard lesson, but don't expect coach McCallion to wilt in the face of it.