Filimoni Bolavucu has scored five tries in two warm-up games for Bay of Plenty. Picture / Greg Bowker
Bay of Plenty hope they can add another name to the burgeoning list of Fijian backline talent to have thrilled New Zealand crowds in recent years.
Filimone Bolavucu joined the Bay this year after having six outings for Waikato over the past two seasons.
Although he's far from a household
name, the former Fijian Colt and sevens representative lines up against the Lions tomorrow night keen to show his reputation for possessing real speed is not just talk.
At 1.78m and 85kg, 24-year-old Bolavucu lacks the bulk of some of his countrymen but he's bagged five tries in two warm-up games for the Bay, against Poverty Bay and Thames Valley.
He and the electric Sitiveni Sivivatu were Waikato's wings in their unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Bay of Plenty last year.
"He's got that familiar Fijian pace and evasion," Bay coach Vern Cotter said.
"He's very quick across the ground and he's going to bring something new for us."
A run through New Zealand top-level rugby in the past few seasons throws up a multitude of Fijian speedsters, or players with Fijian ancestry who have made an impact.
The Blues and Auckland have had Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Iliesa Tanivula and, earlier, Joeli Vidiri, who briefly became an All Black, not to forget Joe Rokocoko's Fijian bloodline; Northland had Caucaunibuca for a time and Fero Lasagavibau on the other wing; Waikato and the Chiefs have Sivivatu, who is poised to become an All Black, perhaps even tomorrow, and the pacy Sosene Anesi.
Remember the blistering speed of Sireli Bobo at Wellington last season?
And Canterbury and Crusaders fans have fond memories of Marika Vunibaka, who has been replaced by Vilimoni Delasau.
Seru Rabeni and Aisea Tuilevu have made valuable contributions to Otago and the Highlanders.
And don't forget Southland boasted World Cup and Pacific Islands fullback-cum-wing Norman Ligairi.
