| Venue: Stade de Marseille Date: Sunday, 15 October Kick-off: 16:00 BST |
| Protection: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Reside; reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app. |
When Fiji’s Levani Botia was younger, he would climb mountains to observe his nation play rugby.
That’s not a metaphor. Rising up, Botia had a generator for electrical energy at dwelling and would haul it to a excessive spot in quest of reception for his tv.
Realizing that many Fijians would do the identical and extra to observe him tackle England in a World Cup quarter-final on Sunday, Botia is just not wanting motivation.
“Rugby is like one thing that goes by way of our blood, it doesn’t matter your age,” he says.
“We simply climbed the mountain.”
Now often called the ‘Demolition Man’, Botia’s journey to turning into considered one of his staff’s star gamers has not at all times been easy.
He was working as a jail officer and went from enjoying on the wardens’ staff to turning into a part of Fiji’s sevens squad.
The now 34-year-old made the change to 15-a-side on the finish of 2013 and joined French membership La Rochelle the next yr, serving to them to promotion and sticking round ever since.
“I feel that is what rugby gave to me, it took me someplace I did not count on to be,” displays Botia.
“I did not count on to be working in a jail. It is one thing that helps me on the rugby area. I do know when issues are arduous, I take into consideration once I began.”
Having performed in two earlier World Cups at centre, Botia has been inflicting harm from the again row this time round.
His risk on the breakdown is such that England have referred to as up Sam Underhill supposedly simply so he can do his finest Botia impression in coaching to arrange team-mates for what’s to return.
Fiji forwards coach Graham Dewes – whose late strive in opposition to Wales helped Fiji to their final World Cup quarter-final in 2007 – praised Botia’s poaching capability.
“The advantage of Levani is, it is essential however he picks and chooses,” Dewes explains.
“It is not like he assaults the ruck each time. When the chance arises, the Demolition Man will in all probability be there.”
Botia performed down his skills, including: “What I do within the area, folks say it is arduous, however nothing’s arduous. Anybody can do this.
“Should you play rugby you are able to do it, it is not tough.”
The Fijian has helped La Rochelle to 2 Champions Cup titles and now turns his consideration to taking his nation to a primary World Cup semi-final.
He says Sunday’s knockout fixture in Marseille is “one of many lifetime video games”.
The match in opposition to England can be Fiji’s first World Cup quarter-final look since 2007, once they misplaced 37-20 to South Africa in the identical stadium that can host them on Sunday.
In addition to enjoying for historical past, Dewes says his gamers can be preventing for team-mates who’re “hurting” after two household bereavements within the squad.
Josua Tuisova’s seven-year-old son died earlier than Fiji performed Georgia within the pool stage and Sam Matavesi is predicted again in camp having returned to England following the dying of his father.
“In our staff we love one another a lot,” Dewes mentioned.
“Sam will come again into camp so we’ll get round him. These issues will assist encourage us. These are the little issues, properly really huge issues, that can assist encourage us.”
Dewes says there’s a “huge perception” in a squad that’s aiming to “bypass” the achievements of the 2007 staff.
Fiji claimed a primary win in opposition to England at Twickenham in August and beat Australia for the primary time at a World Cup earlier on this event.
Dewes says the Twickenham win “has given us a variety of confidence”, including: “For us now, it’s do or die. We go arduous on the weekend or we’re going dwelling early.
“I feel Fiji on its day is able to surprising the world. We have finished it prior to now, and if we stick with our gameplan, then we’ll do it once more.”
Botia and his team-mates can be enjoying for Pacific rugby historical past – and the flanker can be enjoying for many who, similar to him, would climb a mountain to observe.
“I feel in case you ask any Fijian, enjoying rugby now or younger children again at dwelling, everybody loves rugby,” he says.
“Again at dwelling we might typically attempt to play however did not have a rugby ball. So we might use something – empty bottles, a few of us used a coconut or one thing, simply to play rugby.
“It is one thing we have to love, it is our job. It is one thing that brings us collectively.”