‘Wallabies’ Fiji players under pressure’ – McKee

Fiji coach John McKee believes the Wallabies players with Fijian heritage will be under pressure when the sides meet in Melbourne on Saturday.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani and wings Henry Speight, Marika Koroibete and Sefa Naivalu are some of the Australian players set to take on their home country in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.

Naivalu said earlier this week he would be nervous to play against Fiji and McKee echoed those sentiments saying Australia’s Fiji contingent will feel the pressure to do well.

“This Test match is different and the pressure will actually be on them because they’re playing against their own country,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

“It’s not like playing for Australia against New Zealand or anyone else. This game, knowing the Fijian people and what it means to them and representing their people and families … it’ll put a little bit of mental pressure on the Fijians playing for Australia.

“They’re actually playing for Australia against their own country.”

But Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau disagrees and said he expects his team-mates to be keen to impress.

“I think they’ll be eager,” he said.

“There’s always talk of betraying their nation, but I don’t think that’s the case at all.

“I’m eager to see what the fellow Fijians have to offer because in past performances up in the north they have been giving the northern hemisphere teams a run. It’ll be interesting to see what they do in this June Test series.”