- Title: FRANCE: RUGBY - Fiji and South Africa prepare for their World Cup semi-final
- Date: 4th October 2007
- Summary: JOURNALISTS AND PLAYERS AT HOTEL RADISSON IN CENTRE OF MARSEILLE SOUNDBITE (English) GABBY LOVOBALAVU SAYING: "I think the secret of the last victory was the bonding which was very high. I think it was before the game, it was the last chance to be in the top eight in the world. So this is the spirit of the team." FIJI TEAM SHIRT WITH PALM TREE SOUNDBITE (English) SHANNON FRASER, BACKS COACH, SAYING: "Obviously I'm with the backline so a lot of my training will be back line based, this week we're very well aware of the attacking ability of the South Africans and they can play direct and they can play an expansive game of football with some very, very quick outside backs. We've got to be on our game and we're going to be looking this week to re-visit our defensive systems and looking to apply a defensive system that is going to put the most pressure on our opposition." SEREMAIA BAI WITH JOURNALISTS SOUNDBITE (English) SEREMAIA BAI SAYING: "It will be a very hard game, South Africa has been playing good rugby at this World Cup. We know it will be difficult for us, it will be a hard game, we just train and come up with a game plan which we can attack them and score points. As we know when they played against Tonga we know they are beatable so we'll try our best and play them on Sunday."
- Embargoed: 19th October 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA3CIBVABJ880BHRDFNZO6G2KTE
- Story Text: World Cup quarter-finalists Fiji are braced for an onslaught from the powerful Springbok pack in Sunday's (October 7) first found of the knockout stage. Maybe fearing a cold shower, the team was seen bathing in ice.
However centre Gabby Lovobalavu said at a training session on Wednesday (October 3) that Fiji's team spirit could help them spring a surprise.
"I think the secret of the last victory was the bonding which was very high. I think it was before the game, it was the last chance to be in the top eight in the world. So this is the spirit of the team," he said.
Fiji are expecting an even more physical game than their playoff-clinching win 38-34 win over Wales on Saturday, but have taken heart from South Africa's laboured win over Tonga .
"It will be a very hard game, South Africa has been playing good rugby at this World Cup. We know it will be difficult for us, it will be a hard game," said inside centre Seremaia Bai.
"We know when they played against Tonga we know they are beatable so we'll try our best and play them on Sunday," he added.
Backs coach Shannon Fraser has been concentrating on finding a defensive strategy to cope with the South Africans.
"We're very well aware of the attacking ability of the South Africans and they can play direct and they can play an expansive game of football with some very, very quick outside backs," he said. "We've got to be on our game and we're going to be looking this week to re-visit our defensive systems and looking to apply a defensive system that is going to put the most pressure on our opposition." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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