Sympathy in short supply for abject Fijians

Almost single-handedly, they salvaged the wreckage that was the 2007 World Cup in France.

A tournament stained by an endless orgy of aerial ping-pong was rescued by Fiji’s refreshing brand of open, counter attacking rugby that had the fans on their feet for all of their games.

I will never forget the scenes in the media centre prior to the pivotal pool game between Scotland and Italy in St Etienne when the entire press core was glued to the television, following events unfolding in Nantes where the Fijians were giving Wales an incredible run for their money. When the islanders scored a memorable try with four minutes left to secure a 38-34 passage to the quarter-finals at the expense of the Welsh, the place went mad.