Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui has made no bones about what he expects when we take on France tomorrow morning.
Discipline is the key word.
And that will have to be maintained throughout the clash.
He knows that word can set the base for big things.
It will mean being disciplined enough to maintain composure under great pressure, and being very disciplined to stick to a game plan, and being focused enough to vary that to suit the run of the play.
So with that in mind, fans will no doubt be anticipating a fiery clash with attention focused on getting the base right.
That will mean attention to detail in the set pieces and being mindful of the quality of the French team.
Raiwalui named a powerful frontrow, with Eroni Mawi coming in at loosehead prop and Mesake Doge coming in at tighthead.
They will hold up tough hooker Tevita Ikanivere.
We have size, physicality and a top work rate.
Our secondrow has our version of Mr Perpetual Motion in Isoa Nasilasila who will partner Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.
Raiwalui has named Meli Derenalagi at blindside flanker with Levani Botia coming in at openside flanker, with the exciting Viliame Mata holding the scrum at number eight.
To say we have an exciting backrow is putting it lightly.
Interestingly, on the other side of the scrum, the French have called in Dylan Cretin at openside flanker, and have retained Gregory Alldritt at number eight from the win over Scotland last weekend.
So we can expect some exciting battles in the trenches.
If we can get off some semblance of order in the set pieces, then attention will no doubt be on how our backrow establishes control in the breakdowns.
Fans will no doubt be keen to see how our backline functions under the captaincy of second five eight Semi Radradra who will have exciting Drua centre Iosefo Masi at 13.
Then there are the halves partnership of Frank Lomani and Caleb Muntz calling the shots at first receivers, and our speedsters out wide in Vinaya Habosi and Josua Tuisova.
Sireli Maqala will also be attracting attention at fullback.
Raiwalui has also named a strong bench.
While there will be interest on the decision by the French to make 13 changes from the side that played the Scots, fans will be anticipating some exciting moments as we count down to our opening game at the Rugby World Cup next month.
“Our main focus for this game is to continue our progression from our past games and continue with what we’ve built on,” Raiwalui said.
As we count down the hours to the big game, there is excitement in the air.
We may have lost 10 Tests against the French, but that 21-14 win over the Les Bleus in 2018 at Stade de France is something many fans remember.
We defeated France in France!
Tomorrow morning, fans will be banking on hope that the Flying Fijians will believe in themselves and reach out for the stars so to speak.
They will be carrying the hopes and aspirations of an expectant nation.
We say do your best and live your dreams!
Go Fiji, go!
