Fiji’s shock exit from the 2011 Rugby World Cup will not be swept under the mat. That’s for certain as the pain of the loss upsets Fiji rugby supporters.
There will be changes made, and those facing the firing squad could include the manager, head coach, assistant coaches and trainer.
This was confirmed by the Fiji Rugby Union board chairman Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga yesterday.
“There will be changes across the board in the national rugby team management. That will also include the selection panel and other arms of the Fiji Rugby Union,†he said.
Fiji suffered a shock 7-27 loss to Samoa at Eden Park on Sunday, with fans angered by the team's poor play and lack of tactics. It followed an earlier hammering from South Africa.
Fiji is now out of the quarterfinals and almost certainly out of automatic qualification into the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“We will follow the process and wait for the team to return and for the team management to file their report with us,†Colonel Tikoitoga said of when action will be taken.
If Fiji wants to remain in the Automatic qualification for the next World Cup, it has to beat Wales, something Colonel Tikoitoga said the team should now do.
“I know we are all disappointed with what happened against Samoa. There were a lot of talks before the game and we were told this team was better prepared than the 2007 team.
“We now have seen how they performed and we know what we have been able to do.
“There is going to be changes made and we will make them once we have met as a board and decide on the next action.â€
There have been calls for the sacking of head coach Samuela Domoni and his coaching panel of Shannon Fraser and Greg Mumm.
Local fans have started calling for the coaching panel’s removal with others also calling for the removal of the three member selection panel of former national reps Mosese Taga, Daniel Lobendhan and Vuata Naresia.
Former national 7s team manager Epeli Lagiloa also called for Domoni’s resignation, claiming the former national lock forward failed in his job.
“He needs to resign now for his own sake,†Mr Lagiloa said. “That would be the honourable thing to do.â€
Nadroga rugby union team manager and former national rep Paula Biu said the FRU would need to ring in the changes now.
“There is no doubt about it. There needs to be changes right across, from the selection panel, team management, the High Performance Unit and the coaching panel.
“We have reaped what we sowed. We did not do our homework well and we are suffering as a result.â€
Mr Biu said it was now important to have the right people on board, leading up to the 2015 RWC.
“That is important for us now. To have the right people in place now to take us forwad to 2015,†he said.
