By Matt Majendie

Serevi believes this is the best ever Fijian side

Although the 2003 World Cup will be Waisale Serevi's last as a player, the mercurial talent had hoped another Serevi would carry on the family name come the 2019 tournament.

That was until this summer.

Serevi, who plays his club rugby in France, had handed his two-year-old son a rugby ball while on a visit to a sports shop.

Much to the sevens specialist surprise, his son, the youngest of his three children, threw the ball away in disgust. Even more worrying for his dad, a smile only returned to his face when he picked up a football.

Serevi Snr told the BBC Sport website: "I named him Waisale in the hope that he might carry on the name for the Fijian team in the future.

"Sadly he's not looking too excited with the game of rugby at the moment but I've still got a few years to work on it.

"However, if he chooses to be a professional footballer I'd be just as happy with that."

SEREVI FACTFILE DOB: 20/5/68 Position: Fly-half/full-back Team: Stade Montois Test debut: 28/10/89 v Scotland

The trip down under will be Serevi's fourth World Cup and the 35-year-old is more fired up than ever.

Judging by coach Mac McCallion's current tactics, he looks set to play second fiddle to Nicky Little at fly-half.

But his focus is much more on the team than his own personal ambitions and his bid to add to his 30 caps.

"I've been at the World Cups since 1991 but this is the best team we have ever taken to the World Cup," said Serevi.

"This is the best preparation we've ever had and we're surrounded by a lot of guys from Super 12 rugby - some of the real stars. I'm confident we will qualify from the group.

"Just to be a part of that - whatever it is - is an honour and a joy for me as a player."

To achieve the goal of qualifying to the knockout stages, they must overcome Pool B opponents France, Scotland, Japan and the USA.

First up are the French - undoubtedly their toughest pool game and opponents they have lost to in all of their previous World Cup campaigns.

It's important for us to focus on running rugby Waisale Serevi

But Serevi said: "I'm really happy we're playing France in the first match. They'll only know a little about us and they won't have had much chance to send the scouts to watch us.

"So we'll be an unknown quantity and might be able to catch them by surprise."

With their talented backline - among them Rupeni Caucaunibaca, Marika Vunibaka and Vilimoni Delasau - they have the players and the ability to match France.

But the forwards still remain an issue. The recent Test against Argentina - with one of the world's great packs - showed they could take on the best despite coming away 49-30 losers.

Should they manage to continue that against France et al, part two of the Fijian plan will kick into action.

Serevi explained: "It's going to be important for us to focus on running rugby and all our back division should be able to do that no problem as we all come from a sevens background."