Q & A with John McKee

1) With 219 Days to go how are Fiji’s preparations going?

Now we are well into 2015 September will come around very quickly. Preparations are progressing well. I am focusing on keeping tabs of players on our Tracking List (around 50 players World Wide). It is important to be up to date on knowledge re current form, Fitness & injury status. This knowledge will be invaluable in making good decisions re selections later in the year. I am planning a trip to Europe & Then NZ from late March to the end of April. I will visit players at their clubs, discuss their form with coaches and meet with S&C coaches to get up to date fitness data. I keep in regular contact with senior players via skype. This is important to discuss various aspects of my plans for our preparation.

We have 7 matches scheduled in the lead up to the RWC. 4 in PNC (July) with the opening match in Fiji then 3 games in North America. The Queensland Reds will send a squad acroos toi Fiji in August for 2 matches, then we will play Canada in London as our last match before the RWC opening match v England on Sept 18.

Nailing the logistics around this program in a major task and staff at the FRU are working hard to make sure all logistics are in place for all our programs.

2) What are the key priorities for the next two months?

Tracking of players and finalising our coaching group are the major tasks for me currently. I plan to leave for Europe late March to viist players at their clubs and then travel down to NZ to visit some of the Super Teams & ITM cup coaches. I have the plan outline for the Flying Fijians programs & need now to make sure that weekely & daily detail in place so we do not miss anything in our preparation.

3) What’s been the arrangements like by the England 2015 Team?

The England 2015 Organising team are very well organised and efficient in putting in place all the detail for this massive event. I stayed in London post November Tour for meetings & met all the Key Staff. I travelled around our team bases and discussed allour requirements with Hotels & Training Venues.

4) Fiji is pooled with Australia, England (hosts, Uruguay and Wales. How are you preparing for that?

Some very big teams in our pool and a massive challenge to progress to play offs. We saw in the 6 Nations match England v Wales (won by England 21-16) last weekend the intensity the games will be played at. We must be very well prepared & have confidence that we have the game plan to be successful in these big matches. We must prepare and train for the intensity games will be played at in the RWC. With these big games comes pressure but I see that pressure as a good thing (it will always be there when playing at the Highest Levels of International Rugby), for the Flying Fijians it will be about coping with that pressure, keeping clear heads & focusing on the processes required in the games rather than outcomes.

5) Is their added pressure given that you the opening game on the 18th of September?

With these big games comes pressure but I see that pressure as a good thing (it will always be there when playing at the Highest Levels of International Rugby), for the Flying Fijians it will be about coping with that pressure, keeping clear heads & focusing on the processes required in the games rather than outcomes. England will be under a lot of pressure as well with the weight of expectation.

6) Finally what time of public support do you anticipate from our die-hard Fiji Rugby fans?

I know the fans will get behind the team especially with Games in Fiji in July & August & training camps in Fiji during August. There will be fans days were the public can come to open training sessions & get autographs & photos with their favourite players. I know we will have support at the RWC from travelling Fijians, UK based Fijians and especially from many Fijians serving in the British Army.