​The Fijian-Connection: Australia vs France

They were cheering at Lelean Memorial School, in the Fijian capital of Suva, over the weekend as the Wallabies took on France. The famous Fijian rugby nursery had not one but two 'Old Boys' playing in the game, in Tevita Kuridrani for Australia and Virimi Vakatawi for France. The pair were part of a total of five players from the tiny island nation playing in the match, including three in the Australian backline and one on each wing for France.

International Rugby operates under a three-year residency rule that allows any nation to naturalise foreign players after "36 consecutive months of residence immediately preceding the time of playing."At a year apart, Kuridrani and Vakatawi played in the same team at Lelean High. As they lined up opposite each other in foreign colours on foreign soil and prepared to sing their adopted national anthems, you could only wonder how surreal it felt.

Kuridrani would go on to score the match-winner for Australia in what many are calling one of the tries of the year. As the clock ticked over 57 minutes, the six foot four, 102 kilogram giant picked up a long ball from half Will Genia before showing the agility of an acrobat as he dropped his shoulder into the rushing French cover-defence leaving himself with millimetres to spare as leapt sideways through the air and hammered the ball into the turf to extend the Wallabies slender lead.

Kuridrani, who is the nephew of Canberra Raiders rugby league legend, Noa Nadruku, and cousin of former Brisbane, West Tigers and Australian rugby league star, Lote Tuqiri, appeared to take a leaf out of the playbook of the National Rugby League, whose wingers' turned touchline tries into an art form this season. The acrobatic effort also signalled a welcome return to form for Kuridrani who was benched by Wallabies coach, Michael Cheika during the Bledisloe Cup series against New Zealand in favour of another Fijian-born player, Samu Kerevi.

Elsewhere, Levuka-born (Fiji) 24-year-old, Sefa Navailu, was close to Australia's best, pulling off two try-saving tackles in the Wallabies hard-fought victory. He has been pushed all the way to keep his spot in the test side recently by another Fijian product, Suva-born Henry Speight, the grandson of former Fijian President, Ratu Joseph Iloilo. Speight's impact in the game came in the form of rocket-fuelled carries, but careless errors will likely see him benched for Australia's upcoming blockbuster against Ireland this weekend.

The Wallabies are still yet to blood their latest Fijian sensation, former-Melbourne Storm NRL star, Marike Koriobete, who played alongside Sefa Navailu back at Nasinu Secondary School in Suva. The pair get around the training paddock calling each other, "Old Boy," in reference to their time at the school. In total there are five Fijians in the 32-man Australian touring squad.

Wallabies backrower David Pocock was rated Australia's best. He harassed the French at the breakdown, coming up with several crucial turnovers, as well as pulling off a miraculous tackle on flying French fullback, Scott Spedding, as he raced downfield on a late attacking spree that had the potential to lead to a match-winning try.

Following a disappointing winter in which they were mercilessly trounced by England and then the All Blacks, the 25-23 victory over France sees Australia head to Ireland undefeated, giving them a chance of claiming a historic Grand Slam should they win and follow it up with victory over England.

In other results, the Irish were unable to replicate their heroics against the All Blacks in Chicago but still pushed their opponents all the way in a bruising physical encounter. The Fijian national side, meanwhile, could have done with some of their talent playing abroad after they were trounced by England 58-15 at Twickenham. The Rio Olympics Gold Medal winning Rugby Sevens nation has long failed to live up its gold standard in the full 15-man a side game, though there's no doubt the immense talent drain the country suffers is a factor. Italy also created history with a spectacular boil-over against South Africa. It was the first time the European test minnows have ever beaten the southern hemisphere rugby heavyweights.