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| Fiji demanding respect |
| 6 October 2007, 8:20 am |
| By Jonathan McConnell |
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| Fiji are determined to make South Africa centre Jacques Fourie pay for declaring the islanders are not worthy of respect in tomorrow's World Cup quarter-final. |
Fiji reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1987 with a dramatic 38-34 victory over Wales last weekend which has gone down as the greatest in their history.
But Fourie said: ``For me personally, I don't think we should show them any respect. We've never lost against them and I don't think it's going to happen.''
Fiji will use those comments as motivation. Respect on the world stage is the one thing they strive for at this World Cup more than anything else.
Despite their success in beating Wales, Fiji are struggling to negotiate any international fixtures for November 2008. Next year they are currently scheduled to play just two Test matches.
Fiji would love nothing more than to make another forceful statement of intent against the Springboks.
Lock and vice-captain Kele Leawere said: ``It's a good advantage we have not played each other in recent times because we don't care.
``We can go in and smash the hell out of them. This is our chance and we might as well take it.''
But Fiji must avoid getting dragged into a forward-based arm-wrestle with South Africa tomorrow or they stand little chance of pulling off a second World Cup shock in as many weekends.
Fiji's strength lies in an explosive back division and they had great success against Wales by luring them into an open style of game.
The key factor tomorrow will be to ensure the Springboks cannot dictate proceedings by keeping the match tight.
``The Wales game has given us confidence but we still have to work on the scrum when we take on the big boys,'' said captain Mosese Rauluni, the Saracens scrum-half.
``South Africa are a great force and have good depth. Our forwards are ready to give them a go but we have to be smart with the ball.
``We'll only kick the ball out if we have to. We don't want to give them line-out opportunities.
``Whatever ball we get we have to keep. We set a goal to get to the quarter-finals and now we want to get to the semis. Whatever we have to do, we will do to win this game.''
Fiji's win over Wales came at a cost, with fly-half Nicky Little ruled out of the tournament after damaging knee ligaments in the closing stages.
Clermont Auvergne's Seremaia Bai has switched from inside centre to replace Little at fly-half, prompting a back-line reshuffle with Saracens' Kameli Ratuvou moving into midfield.
The experienced duo of full-back Norman Liguiri and winger Sereli Bobo both come into the team for the Marseille showdown.
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