Never has it been clearer that Fiji do things differently. It can’t have been more than 90 minutes after defeat to England was confirmed when the sound of a Pacific Island beat and stomping feet bounced around the bowels of the Stade Velodrome, Simon Raiwalui’s beaten side making their Rugby World Cup exit with a boombox, and their heads, held high.
There was disappointment there, of course, perhaps most prominently on the face of the captain Waisea Nayacalevu, frustrated not just about the opportunities missed both against England and earlier in the tournament, but also perceived mistreatment by the officials. For coach Raiwalui, though, the overriding emotion was pride.
