Assiratti eager to take another step forward

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Keiron Assiratti is aiming to take the next step in his international career as the Autumn Nations Series looms on the horizon.

Wales take on Fiji, Australia and South Africa in the weeks again, kicking-off against the Pacific Islanders on Sunday. 

Assiratti is one of three tight-heads named in Warren Gatland’s squad and entered international camp as one of the form players in Wales. 

Having missed the summer tour through injury, Assiratti benefitted from a full pre-season and has been part of a dominant scrum at the Arms Park. 

The Blue & Black pack is currently joint first in the BKT United Rugby Championship for success percentage at scrum-time and while there have been blips at the lineout, the maul attack has also become a weapon. 

Assiratti said: “We have had a decent start with Cardiff – three wins, three losses- and I have been doing alright so I’m proud and happy to be selected for the Autumn.

“I feel fit, I feel strong, it’s the best I have felt in a while and I’ve had no trouble with my back in the last few weeks. I’m feeling good. 

“I had the back injury against South Africa in the summer but I had a good pre-season with Cardiff, which I needed and I have been managed well by Cardiff. I think I’m on the right track now.

“I have been in and around camps for the last year and a bit, two years maybe so I feel like I can bring a bit more now. I have played 80 something (85) games for Cardiff, so I feel I have quite a bit experience now and I just want to push on.”

Having also been part of a Cardiff side that has begun to turn narrow loses into victories, Assiratti is hopeful Wales can also turn a corner in the autumn. 

But he is also acutely aware of the threats the Flying Fijians pose and knows Wales must be at the top of their game.

He added: “We know what Fiji bring so we have to match them physically and hopefully we can do a job up front. 

“There’s three good opportunities – Fiji, Australia and the world champions – but the big one is Fiji and if we can get a good start it will be a good day at the office. It’s a chance for us to get back on track. 

“They have some boys coming back, 11 or 12 players. We know the challenge but we have to front up and face them head on. 

“They are a hard team to prepare for because they can offload everything. We need to be on it, we can’t switch off for a second because we could be under our sticks.”

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