France to expect bruising battle: Millard October 29, 2008
Hard hitting Fiji Bati centre Daryl Millard says the French should anticipate a bruising encounter when they play this weekend as the Fijians are geared up to taking on their bigger and experienced opponents.
"(France) are pretty solid up the middle - that's where we'll have to match them,” says the Bulldogs utility back.
"If we can hold the ball and tackle, well, we've got a bit of skill in the team, so we've just got to hold on to the ball and grind our way through the match and we'll find ways to score some points," Millard told illawarramercury.com.au
The Fijian camp is focused on out muscling France’s heavy pack that will be lead skipper Jerome Guisset.
"We've just been working for the last two weeks on things like wrestling and other things that NRL clubs do," Millard said.
Meanwhile the Jo Rabele coached side has been getting sound technical advice from Departing St George Illiwarra official Jason Ryles who has been prepping them up on tackling and wrestling techniques – a two hour torrid session yesterday morning.
NRL Broncos star and Bati second row Ashton Simms has stepped in to help the Fijian forwards days before their French encounter.
Millard said they were lucky to have most of the Fijian team playing in the New South Wales country competitions including group seven this season.
"We've just been working for the last two weeks on things like wrestling and other things that NRL clubs do," Millard said yesterday.
Ryles commended the Fijian pack for their willingness to learn, despite their lack of experience.
"They really have a crack and they've got really good attitudes and they want to learn as much as they can while they're around the NRL guys."
