Selecting on balance and how the team wants to play was the reason Tela was picked over Volavola - Raiwalui

We ended up selecting on the balance of how the team wants to play and that is why we went for Teti Tela.

This was highlighted by Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui when asked about his decision to drop experienced flyhalf Ben Volavola from his 33-member squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Raiwalui says they were trying different combinations and were trying to fit three players into one position so they had to come to a decision.

Fans have now raised questions as to why Volavola, the most experienced Flying Fijians flyhalf, was dropped from the squad.

Volavola has expressed his feelings that he has accepted his exclusion from the squad.

However it still leaves a huge gap to fill in the team as it is one of the important positions that could determine a team’s result and in terms of experience, many feel Volavola is surely the go-to option.

With Swire Shipping Fijian Drua duo Teti Tela and Caleb Muntz being chosen to fill in the position, they have a huge task at hand to try and fill the gap.

This situation takes us back to the 2015 RWC where the All Blacks had three flyhalves in their squad for the tournament with the likes of Daniel Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden with halfback Piri Weepu covering the position as well.

All three flyhalves suffered injuries before the grand final and the selectors had to call in veteran Chiefs flyhalf Stephen Donald who was dropped from the initial squad and was on a fishing trip to cover for the position in the grand final which he initially won the game for the All Blacks with his penalty kick at goal coming off the bench.

The Flying Fijians will now turn their focus to their two upcoming test matches against France and England on the 20th and 27th of this month respectively before heading to the Rugby World Cup next month.