Kicking coach Bai, Miramira (FIJ) - 'People who are sick come alive when we win'

Comments from Fiji kicking coach Seremaia Bai and flanker Vilive Miramira at a media briefing on Wednesday looking ahead to Sunday's Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-final against England.

Seremaia Bai, kicking coach

On the players after the match against Portugal [defeat in their final Pool C match] and expectations for Sunday's quarter-final against England:

"We were pretty disappointed but we got into the quarter-final, which is not an easy task, but we are excited at the same time. Probably three months ago, we played England and we get confidence from that game that we can compete with them [Fiji beat England for the first time at Twickenham in August]. We just re-grouped and talked about the positives and we are looking forward to playing this weekend against England."

On the key things to overcoming England this weekend:

"If you look at our game at the weekend, we just need to keep hold of the ball. Building phases, being patient, ball carrying - those fundamentals. I think we can move the ball around better on the field. That is something we talked about coming out of last weekend's game."

On the importance of jackallers such as Levani Botia in the contact area:

"It's very important. We're known for trying to get our hands on the ball but England will try to get the ball away from us. I think it is very important that we have Botia and some of our looses [loose forwards] who are very good at the breakdown. But it's a balance with not giving away soft penalties. It is going to be a really good battle because some of their players are very good at that breakdown area."

On the death of the father of Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi:

"The team would like to send our condolences to Sam and the family. We heard that Sam's old man passed, I think, last night. He has been one of our senior leaders. We will see in the coming days if he is going to join us. He is back in England."

On the team pulling together, given the sad news affecting the families of Josua Tuisova and Sam Matavesi:

"In Fiji family is everything. We have been 15 weeks away from our families since we started this campaign so we make that this becomes our family. If one suffers, we all suffer. In Fiji we are kind of a family even if we are from different provinces. We become very close.

"We know the players and the families come from humble beginnings and we make sure there is the care and the love that they need. It is a very tough moment but we need to stay together and care for one another."

On whether there is a replacement for the injured Temo Mayanavanua:

"Yes. The coaches are bringing in Api [Apisalome] Ratuniyarawa. Api has been with this squad from the beginning of our campaign and has been playing here in France. He will be joining us some time this week."

On the opposing playing styles - England loving to kick and Fiji loving to run with the ball:

"It's a balance between running the ball and kicking the ball. We know they have threats all over the park, with the quality of their kicking. We just have to make sure that we cover those kicking-battle scenarios and then balance it up with when we will try to run it to counter those kicking battles. That is something we will have to be very smart with."

On the excitement in Fiji after the team made it into the quarter-finals:

"I don’t call it excitement - I think 'crazy'. Just like in England, passionate about rugby, same as a little island in Fiji, everyone gets up at three or five o’clock in the morning.

"People who are sick come alive when we win games. We’ve just got to make sure that we not only play for a certain quarter-final, we just play for our own people - young kids, people in the village - it means a lot to them.

"Everybody’s excited. I know that comes with disappointment along the way, but 16 years ago we made the quarter-final and now we’re here where no-one even gave a possibility for us to make it. We’re going to make the most of it.

"As a tier-two nation we don’t get the opportunity quite often to play against tier-one nations like England. This is probably the only opportunity you can make in three or four years.

"Here we are, the only tier-two nation that made these quarter-finals and it’s something we should be proud of. It’s not going to be easy, but hey, what a great opportunity for us to come against England in this quarter-final."

On how the country would react if the team make it into the semi-finals:

"I think it will be a one-week holiday in Fiji. It will be crazy. Rugby means a lot for us in Fiji, it just gives us life, it keeps everybody happy and [everybody] comes alive, comes together. It keeps the country in unity. Through rugby, whatever the result, hopefully we will make the country proud.”

On his pride in the team’s togetherness:

"It took us 16 years to get where we are, and it takes us 15 weeks only - instead of four years - to build this team up, and that’s something that we are very grateful for, players who play around the country come together in 15 weeks. Beyond that, it’s a dream and a goal that we aspire to and something that can motivate us to reach beyond."

On being the neutrals’ favourite team at Rugby World Cup 2023, including that of French fans:

"France is Fiji, Fiji is France. We love France, it’s become our home. We’re grateful for the support and overwhelmed with all the support we have away from home."

Vilive Miramira, flanker

On the coaching style of Simon Raiwalui:

"I met Simon in Fiji when he started training the academy. He is a coach and a good leader too. He brings a lot of experience from coaching in France and that really helps a lot."

On what he has picked out from watching Fiji’s pool matches at Rugby World Cup 2023, having not yet featured for the team in the competition:

"I really learned a lot from the past few games. I took out some positives and by watching the games it gives me a lot of experience; and also learning from our senior players, they’ve been leading us, taught us skills and really given me good experience."