Meyer hoping Fiji star turns up this time
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:38
Leicester Tigers coach Heyneke Meyer will be hoping that Fijian bad boy Rupeni Caucaunibuca turns up sooner rather than later for his supposed trials with the Guinness Premiership club.
The Tigers are already in the grips of an early-season injury crisis, and news of a six-week lay-off to wing Alesana Tuilagi following a knee injury has left Meyer with only one specialist wing in his squad, in Tom Varndell.
rugby365.com recently reported that 'Caucau' was due for the trial at Leicester, but whether the Fijian will actually turn up is another matter entirely.
Caucaunibuca has a history of disappearing for both club and country in the past.
The player had a patchy relationship at best with former club, French Pro D2 club Agen. Caucau failed to return from a trip to Fiji, while contracted to play for the club, and subsequently neglected his playing commitments.
It was later reported that the player suffered from a 'tropical virus' and that he failed to arrive in France because he was ill in hospital.
The 2003 World Cup star also failed to report for duty on more than one occasion for the Fiji national side during the 2005 season, which led to the Fiji Rugby Union banning him for one year.
Caucau has been due to arrive in Leicester for the past two weeks for a trial with coach Meyer's team, but so far Caucau has failed to appear.
According to the Leicester Mercury, the Fijian was expected to board a plane from the Pacific Islands to England on Monday on order to give coach Meyer a chance to assess his current levels of fitness and ability, with a view possible contract.
"As soon as we get any news, I will tell you," Meyer told the Leicester Mercury on Monday.
"I don't know what's happening at this stage. But, when he pitches up here, I will know."
The Tigers are currently struggling for available bodies with wing Seru Rabeni suspended, Ayoola Erinle and Tuilagi recovering from injury. Matt Smith and Johne Murphy could be used as emergency measures on the wing, but both players have indicated that they prefer other positions.
In that light, Meyer will be all too keen to run the rule over the unpredictable Fijian.
The Tigers are also currently without Lewis Moody, Martin Castrogiovanni, Louis Deacon, and recent South African recruit Derick Hougaard, who are all suffering from long-term injuries.
And to make matters worse, Meyer had to watch centre Dan Hipkiss and lock Richard Blaze leave Saturday's clash against London Irish after picking up injuries.
Meyer will be hoping that Blaze, Hipkiss, Erinle and Martin Corry all pass fitness tests later this week ahead of Saturday's match against Worcester Warriors.
Perhaps Meyer could follow the example of his countryman, Western Province and Stormers senior coach Rassie Erasmus.
Erasmus faced a similar situation recently when another Fijian star, Sireli Naqelevuki, failed to arrive in South Africa for Currie Cup duty with Western Province.
The player missed several matches, which prompted Erasmus to board a plane to Fiji, find the player, and personally escort him back to Cape Town.
