By John Davidson, Date: 14/11/17 (Photo Credit NRLPhotos)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand
Date: November 18th 2017
TV Kick-off time: 7.30pm NZDT (Local Time)
Australia Kick-off time Sydney / Melbourne: Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 5:30:00 pm AEDT
Australia Kick-off time Brisbane: (Australia – Queensland) Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 4:30:00 pm AEST
Fiji Kick-off time: Suva (Fiji) Saturday, 18 November 2017 at 7:30:00 pm FJST
New Zealand are readying to face an in-form and firing Fiji in the World Cup quarter-finals this Saturday.
The Kiwis and the Bati will meet in Wellington after New Zealand was famously beaten by Tonga in Hamilton. That path has set up a clash with Fiji and then potentially Australia in the semi-finals, if they get that far.
Coach David Kidwell has made two key changes to try and pick his team up after a disappointing second half performance in Hamilton. Newcastle hooker Danny Levi will make his first start for the Kiwis, with Wigan’s Thomas Leuluai dropped.
There has also been a key change in the halves with North Queensland’s Te Maire Martin promoted to the starting line-up alongside Shaun John. Brisbane utility Kodi Nikorima moves to the bench and will relieve Levi at 9. Adam Blair will again skipper New Zealand from the lock position.
Fiji are on a roll after accounting for Italy, Wales and the United States. The Bati have kept the exact same starting XIII that beat Italy and made one just one change to the bench with Joe Lovodua replacing James Storer.
Fiji coach Mick Potter will be hoping consistency and combinations are the key to keeping the Pacific nation’s World Cup drive alive. The Fijians have been devastating in attack, racking up try after try from the likes of Suliasi Vunivalu, Akilua Uate, Taane Milne and Jarryd Hayne.
New Zealand know their defence will have to improve greatly after the shock loss to Tonga. With the likes of Vunivalu and Uate, not to mention Hayne leading their around the field and Manly hooker Api Korosiau directing traffic at the ruck, Fiji have an impressive list of stars. They will be no easybeats, no walkovers.
The Kiwis will have home advantage, with the quarter-final being played in Wellington, but that will not deter the Bati.
New Zealand Kenny Bromwich said his team needs to make a statement after the Tongan disaster.
“I think it’s very important… the challenge that we are facing now is that we have to stick together and play well,” Bromwich said.
“Fiji are a tough side and they have also got skill, we have got to adjust a little bit. They have got the flick pass, a good offload. The challenge is a bit harder, but it’s the World Cup, you don’t expect it to be easy.
“Either way it is going to be a hard challenge to win the final, so if you are going this harder way it’s a bit better I think.”
New Zealand Kiwis v Fiji Bati teams 2017 RLWC Quarter Finals
New Zealand Kiwis 2017 RLWC Quarter Finals Squad:
1 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK
2 Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAK
3 Dean WHARE
4 Bradley TAKAIRANGI
5 Jordan RAPANA
6 Te Maire MARTIN
7 Shaun JOHNSON
8 Martin TAUPAU
9 Danny LEVI
10 Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVES
11 Simon MANNERING
12 Joseph TAPINE
13 Adam BLAIR (c)
14 Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
15 Russell PACKER
16 Isaac LIU
17 Kodi NIKORIMA
18 Kenny BROMWICH
19 Jason NIGHTINGALE
20 Peta HIKU
21 Addin FONUA-BLAKE
Fiji Bati 2017 RLWC Quarter Finals Squad:
1 Kevin NAIQAMA (c)
2 Suliasi VUNIVALU
3 Taane MILNE
4 Akuila UATE
5 Marcelo MONTOYA
6 Jarryd HAYNE
7 Henry RAIWALUI
8 Ashton SIMS
9 Apisai KOROISAU
10 Eloni VUNAKECE
11 Viliame KIKAU
12 Brayden WILIAME
13 Tui KAMIKAMICA
14 Joe LOVODUA
15 Jacob SAIFITI
16 Junior ROQICA
17 Ben NAKUBUWAI
18 James STORER
19 Salesi FAINGAA
20 Sitiveni MOCEIDREKE
21 Pio SOKOBALAVU
