Big things for Little's Fiji
Last updated: 4th October 2007
Little: tears of joy and tears of pain
We are one of the top eight teams in the world, but we have got guys in the squad who do not know how to use the elevator.
After helping Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa,The Rugby Club caught up with Nicky Little.
Little scored 18 points and was the architect for Wales downfall before being stretchered off with strained medial ligaments in his left knee and he will be sorely missed in their quarter-final against the Springboks.
But if you thought that Little always thought Fiji had it in them to beat Wales, well you would be mistaken as he was surprised as...well as Wales.
"There is all this talk about thinking positive and stuff, but we thought there was no way we could beat Wales," laughed Little.
"They are a big team, and when I threw that intercept pass I was sort of giggling to myself because the Wales prop who I played with at Ponty gave me a smile and said don't worry about it, so we had a quiet high five because he was saying don't worry about it and I was saying yeah, well done.
"But under those posts, everyone was quiet and were telling me not to worry about it, and even the young boys were looking up at the clock and saying, we have got six minutes.
"I thought, that is a great attitude boys and the bottom line is we went and did it."
And did it they did, but it was not one of their sevens-style stars that got them the winning try, instead it was one of the forwards or as Little calls them one of the troopers.
After Little had seen his pass intercepted by Martyn Williams to put Wales in the lead for the first time in the game, Little sent his troops back into battle once more before prop Graham Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee.
"It was one of the troopers who did it," said the fly-half. "Everyone talks about Bobo and Delasau, but I like the troopers."
By the time Dewes went over, Little had been stretchered off with his knee injury and was dosed up on pain killers, so he did not actually see the winning try.
"I asked him, bro did you get that try, and he looked me straight in the eyes and said 'I got that try.'
Getting to the quarter-finals of the World Cup will hopefully reap plenty of rewards for Fijian rugby, something that Little is desperate to build on.
"This has made enormous strides for Fiji rugby," explained Little.
"When I started there was Brad Johnson (former Fiji coach) and we had nothing.
"We built a house from the base up on little things. Don't cut corners; be here on time - because there is no time in Fiji.
"It is a long way to come from the village you know, there is a lot to learn. We are in the top eight teams in the world, but we have got guys in the squad who do not know how to use the elevator.
"That grounds me and it is great when you do well and it is fantastic, yes maybe we beat Wales, but some of the youngsters could not wait to swap gear with the likes of James Hook, because they have seen him on the TV.
"That is how honest these guys are."
