South Africa v Fiji:All that Fiji seem to have in their favour as they count down to the biggest game in their history is the fine weather here, and even that is on the turn, with thundery showers forecast to rumble in off the Mediterranean this weekend.
South Africa will be rumbling mauls and scrums at the Stade Velodrome tomorrow afternoon, determined to tire out a Fiji eight who never stopped running against Wales last week. The Springboks' pack averages 50 caps a man and the coach, Jake White, has chosen four props in his match-day squad, ensuring that the islanders' frontrow will have no respite.
The man charged with stopping South Africa from reducing the Fiji scrum to rubble is the 30-year-old, 17-cap Henry Qiodravu, who plays for Orleans in the French third division. He had played at loosehead prop all his career but was converted to the tighthead out of necessity.
Qiodravu, drafted in by Fiji after the collapse of their scrum against Wales last week, tips the scales at more than 19st and he will need every ounce tomorrow as he finds himself up against the most experienced prop in the tournament, the 35-year-old, 77-cap Os du Randt.
"I know it is going to be the biggest test of my career but I have a job to do," he said. "Everybody in rugby has heard of Os du Randt but the prospect of taking him on does not daunt me. We could have a few surprises for South Africa." He said his scrummaging had improved considerably in his two years with Orleans.
"A concern in Fiji is that clubs do not have any money so it is rare to come across a scrummaging machine," he added. "Our problem is not that we lack size or ability, we simply struggle when it comes to technique because we lack facilities at home. When we get our set-pieces right, the rest of the world can watch out."
Complacency could prove a danger to South Africa and centre Jaque Fourie put them on the back foot this week when, ungraciously, he said Fiji were not worthy of the Springboks' respect. But winger Bryan Habana had a different take yesterday.
"Fiji have had an outstanding World Cup and it is good for rugby that they have made the knockout stage. We're not taking anything for granted," he said.
SOUTH AFRICA: P Montgomery; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, F Steyn, B Habana; B James, F du Preez, O du Randt, J Smit, Jj van der Linde; B Botha, V Matfield, S Burger, J Smith, D Rossouw. Replacements: G Botha, G Steenkamp, J du Plessis, J Muller, W van Heerden, R Pienaar, W Olivier, Andre Pretorius.
FIJI: N Ligairi, V Delasau, K Ratuvou, S Rabeni, S Bobo; S Bai, M Rauluni (captain); G Dewes, S Koto, H Qiodravu; K Leawere, I Rawaqa; S Naevo, A Qera, S Koyamaibole. Replacements: B Gadolo, J Railomo, A Ratuva, W Lewaravu, J Daunivucu, W Luveniyali, G Lovobalav
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
