Sawt Falasteen - Fiji's 'Demolition Man' Botia ready to climb mountain again

The 34-year-old former prison warden known as "Demolition Man" by his teammates has been one of the Flying Fijians' stars of the tournament in France.

Excitement in Fiji has reached fever pitch ahead of Sunday's quarter-final.

"If you ask any Fijian playing rugby now or young kids back at home, everyone loves rugby," said Botia.

"When I was a kid back at home, sometimes when we tried to play there was no rugby ball so we used anything: an empty bottle, some (were) using a coconut or something just to play rugby."

The match against England will kick-off at 3am Fijian time, but the locals are long used to overcoming all sorts of difficulties to watch their beloved national team.

"When I was a kid we had no electricity. We had a generator so we took it to the (top of the) mountain -- we tried to find reception (for) the TV," explained Botia.

"Rugby is like something going through our blood, it doesn't matter your age, we just climb the mountain" to watch the game.

- 'I was so angry with him' -

Botia's journey to World Cup quarter-finalist has been an eventful one.

Born in Naitasiri province in the interior of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, Botia had to work hard to make it as a professional player.

Like many Fijians chasing their rugby dreams, he had to take a job before his talent was spotted, working as a prison warden.

"The work in the prison, it's not simple," said Botia.

"When we stay there we are (incarcerated) like (the prisoners), the only difference is the uniform we wear."

Botia's employers saw him playing for a local side and invited him to join the Wardens' sevens team.

He was soon spotted by the Fijian national sevens team and represented them before switching to the 15-a-side game.

But playing rugby initially saw Botia land in hot water with his wife, Emele Veivuke.

When they met she had told him she didn't like rugby players, so he hid his love of the game from her.

"I came to know about his rugby career when I saw him on television playing rugby," said Veivuke.

Botia was supposed to be at a "workshop" in the east of the island, but was in fact playing for Fiji at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

"I was so upset and angry with him. After two months I cooled down, then I was ready to support him and his rugby," said Veivuke.

- 'Demolition Man will be there' -

Botia's big break came in 2014 when he received a phone call from Fiji great Sireli Bobo, who was then playing for La Rochelle in France.

Bobo invited Botia to join him in western France, initially as a an injury replacement for the last three months of the season.

"It was part of my dream when I was a kid to play in France," said Botia.

"I watched (French-based) players like (Rupeni) Caucaunibuca, (Vilimoni) Delasau. They have been big names around the world and in France as well".

La Rochelle were in the French second division at the time but Botia scored a brace of tries in the promotion play-off semi-finals against Agen and helped the club win promotion to the Top 14.

That earned him a full-time contract and he hasn't looked back since, winning the Champions Cup with La Rochelle in each of the last two years.

Originally a back who could play centre or on the wing, Botia has become one of the best flankers in the world.

And he is the player England fear the most, particularly for his work at the breakdown.

"He's brilliant at what he does. He's strong first and foremost. If he gets over that ball he's hard to move," said England flanker Tom Curry.

Botia's decision making is what makes him stand out as a jackler, according to Fiji's forwards coach Graham Dewes.

"The good thing about Levani, and it's very important, but he picks and chooses," said Dewes.

"It's not like he takes the ruck every time. When the opportunity arises, the Demolition Man will probably be there."

Z.Ramadan--SF-PST