WHEN Josh Matavesi picked up the ball with 15 minutes left on the clock and a wall of Leicester Tigers players in front of him not many people could predict what was about to come next.
Quick as a flash, the fleet-footed Fijian sold his opposite number a dummy before out-pacing several Tigers players as he went on to touch down for a superb solo try.
But the silky move did not catch Ravai Fatiaki by surprise as the centre insisted he knew exactly what his midfield partner was going to do.
“Josh is the kind of guy who has got the ‘X Factor’ – he can just suddenly do something which can shock people,” Fatiaki said.
“But when he took the ball I knew he was going to do a dummy as there was nothing else on.”
That sort of inside knowledge of each others’ games has seen director of rugby Dean Ryan pick the Fijian duo for the opening three Aviva Premiership clashes.
And Matavesi said he was delighted to be playing along side his fellow countryman, who was out of action for most of last season due to injury.
Having also previously combined for Fiji and now sharing a house in Worcester, the 22-year-old said he had built up a strong partnership with Fatiaki, which he hopes to use to great effect this season.
“I am with the guy 24/7, so to be playing with him is awesome as he knows me inside out and I know him inside out,” Matavesi said.
“It is one of those things where there is not much talking going on as we know what each other is going to do.
“When you see us on the pitch we are always swapping in and out, so if Rav wants to run at someone then he can and we will just swap roles.
“He is such a threat with ball in hand, so it’s great to have him back and I know what it means for him to put the shirt back on again.”
