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No Fiji reprieve for Wallaby discard

By
Monday 24 Aug 2015

Fiji coach John McKee on Monday ruled out giving Naiyaravoro a last-minute World Cup call-up after the blockbusting wing failed to make Australia's squad for the tournament.

McKee said he would consider selecting Fiji-born Naiyaravoro down the track but would not disrupt planning for next month's event in England to accommodate him.

"Taqele is certainly back on my radar for the future," McKee told AFP.

"Just because Taqele was effectively not available for us in this World Cup, doesn’t mean we won’t select him for the future... [but] I'm very happy with the wings we've named."

At 1.94 metres tall and weighing 123 kilograms, Naiyaravoro's combination of speed and power has been compared to Jonah Lomu.

The 23-year-old was included in the Wallabies extended World Cup squad after strong Super Rugby form for the Waratahs.

But he failed to make Australia's 31-man squad named last week after confirming he was taking up a contract with Pro12 Champions Glasgow Warriors.

Ninth-ranked Fiji are in the so-called pool of death at the World Cup, with England, Australia and Wales.

AFP

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