Fiji wing Jiuta Wainiqolo says he’s up for the challenge of keeping France flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey in check during Saturday’s Nations Championship clash in Lyon.
Wainiqolo was last season’s leading try-scorer in the French Top 14 with 18 for Lyon, while Bielle-Biarrey, in his distinctive red scrumcap, has notched up 29 tries in 28 Les Bleus appearances.
The Fijian express train will be making his first appearance under new coach Jake White after being unavailable for the 34-28 win over Japan due to club commitments.
Asked to compare himself with the French winger, Wainiqolo was quick to give his opponent the edge.
“He’s quicker than me,” he joked. “He plays in a good team, that helps him. Everyone is good around him, it makes things easy for him.”
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Wainiqolo knows French conditions well after spending some time at Toulon where he scored 37 tries in 87 appearances over four seasons before joining Lyon in 2025.
But his move to France came during a difficult period in his personal life. Wainiqolo lost his father in his first year overseas.
“I didn’t know it would be the last time I saw him when he dropped me at the airport,” he said. “It was very hard for me because he was a big supporter for me, a big motivation. I wanted him to see how far I’d go.”
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Wainiqolo is also hoping Australia winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will choose to represent Fiji ahead of next year’s World Cup. Wainiqolo revealed he had already tried to persuade the former NRL star, who has the option of representing Fiji, Australia or Italy.
“Hopefully Mark will join us,” he said. “I sent him a message and he just replied giving me the ‘eyes’ emoji. I said ‘bro come on man’.”
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– AFP
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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Fiji wing Jiuta Wainiqolo says he’s up for the challenge of keeping France flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey in check during Saturday’s Nations Championship clash in Lyon.
The post Jake’s lethal weapon relishes LBB duel appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
