Timoci Nagusa Analysis, Digi Mart USA News: Former Fiji international winger Timoci Nagusa, known as “Jim,” has offered his analysis of Saturday’s France-Fiji match at 9:10 p.m. He spent ten years at Montpellier, from 2010 to 2020, and recently moved to Seattle to join his brother for personal reasons.
Nagusa, 39, won 33 caps for Fiji and ranks seventh on the all-time Top 14 try-scoring list with 80 tries. He said he knows new Fiji coach Jake White well, having been coached by him at Montpellier between 2014 and 2017.
He described White as very intelligent, experienced, and successful wherever he has coached, and said White’s method and strict, structured approach are what Fiji needs.
Nagusa said that playing France is special for Fijian players, since most Fijians play in France and the country has offered them many opportunities. He noted that young Fijian players now want to play in France because it is seen as one of the best places to improve, though this was not always the case in his era.
He called France the best rugby nation, citing its deep talent pool and strong youth development.
On Fiji’s difficulty converting its strong backline talent into results, Nagusa said players need more time together to build understanding, and that many play in different positions for their clubs than for the national team. He added that Fiji’s players are becoming more professional, particularly through the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby, and said he expects Fiji to become genuinely competitive within two or three years.
Nagusa also reflected on his personal history with Montpellier, including the club’s run to the 2016 European Challenge Cup title and a 2020 Top 14 final loss to Toulouse. He described his relationship with former France coach Fabien Galthié as friendly, saying he often called him “papa” and was allowed considerable freedom.
He also discussed taking paternity leave in 2022, saying it cost him his career, though he does not regret it.
