Ryan, Marsh and Pryor to boost Flying Fijians

The Vodafone Flying Fijians have brought three key Australians into its coaching staff.

Head coach John McKee has hired Brumbies defence coach Peter Ryan, and strength and conditioning gurus Damian Marsh and John Pryor to be part of his 2019 campaign.

Fiji will end up in Pool D alongside Australia and Wales if they defeat Tonga and Samoa in the Rugby World Cup qualifier next month.

Fiji is ranked 10th in the world while Australia is third and Wales is eighth.

Fiji already holds a World Cup win over Wales, the epic 38‑34 victory in France in 2007 that saw them progress to the quarters and nearly knock over eventual champions South Africa.

It would be a hugely difficult task for Fiji if they were to be in Pool B alongside the All Blacks and Springboks, while Pool C is the official “pool of death” with England, France and Argentina lumped together and only two to progress.

The remaining group, Pool A, features fourth‑ranked Ireland and fifth‑ranked Scotland, but Japan is also in that pool and could be a bogey side given they’re hosting the event and are already inching towards a top‑10 ranking.

Meanwhile the national side had their first training run at the Xavier College grounds in Melbourne yesterday.

Captain Akapusi Qera was impressed with their first training in Melbourne and the level of concentration.

Also joining the team in Melbourne is Leone Nakarawa, Ben Volavola and Albert Vulivuli.

The Wallabies will host the Flying Fijians at 5pm Saturday.