Fiji look to put fun back into their game

Fiji are determined not to be swayed by the occasion ahead of their clash with Wales at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Sunday.

"We just want to have fun," said captain Deacon Manu, while admitting the Fijians had lost their rhythm.

Players and management admit that since the start of their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign, they have lost some of the joy of playing rugby.

"We haven't been enjoying the journey too much over the past three weeks. So we've been trying to get our minds off rugby," Manu said.

"In the preparation (this week), we've really tried to enjoy ourselves off the field."

Fiji coach Samu Domoni says the plan to lighten the mood is working, judging by the players' attitude on the training pitch.

"We've already done it. You can see they (the players) are laughing and enjoying themselves," he said.

Motivation assured

The Fijians are now out of contention for the quarter-finals, but they say motivation will not be an issue come Sunday.

"In the end, you're still representing Fiji. You get to represent your family, yourself and your country," Manu said.

Fiji will use their recent success against Wales - a win at RWC 2007 and a draw in Cardiff last year - as inspiration.

"We love playing Wales. The second-last time we beat them and the last time we drew with them at their home ground," Manu said.

"They won't take us lightly now, so we've got to be prepared for a challenge and make sure we finish on a high.

"We need to get things right tactically. We need to play in the right areas and have a good mix."

Fresh blood

The Fijians say some younger players will be given an opportunity to show what they have got on Sunday and Manu says they will give the team some much-needed spark.

"They'll bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm and determination," he said. "For some, it will be their first World Cup start, which is a pretty special occasion."

In a veiled warning, coach Domoni says Wales will face a different Fiji outfit on Sunday.

"It's been a challenging pool," he said. "To play Namibia, then South Africa and Samoa was very tough.

"But we're now focused on this week. We've sat down and we now believe."

Room to improve

Manu says his team is disappointed with their World Cup campaign so far, but know where they can improve.

"We've played well in phases. You see that with a lot of smaller teams when they play the big teams.

"They stick with them for the first 60 minutes, but fade out in the last 20 minutes," he said.

"We set high standards for ourselves, especially after the last World Cup, so we wanted to emulate that. We haven't been able to do that."

Domoni says his team will feel comfortable playing in Hamilton.

"It's a boost and it will be emotional. It's like a home away from home for us," he said.