BAGHDAD—From the outside, it's another anonymous, prefabricated cabin in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, encircled by blast walls and sand bags.
But inside it's a small corner of the Pacific Island nation of Fiji and, more importantly, the rugby is on television.
More than 50 Fijian soldiers and security guards who work for the United Nations in Iraq crammed into the cabin on Sunday, hoping their team would cause one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history as they took on South Africa in the quarter finals.
There's a feeling of pride that the Fijian team is playing so well on the world stage. And happiness as the game transports the men back to their home, an archipelago of palm-fringed islands far from Iraq.
"With this game going well it makes us feel happy. It makes us feel at home with all these Fijian guys together," said George Natoga, 32, who has been based in Iraq for seven months.
The cabin is adorned with rugby trophies. A signed French shirt, a South African jersey, flags from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Scotland. An inflatable kangaroo in Australia's colors sits on the bar.
"The game takes us away, particularly from the daily duties," said Kiniviliame Salabogi, 43, who served in Lebanon, Egypt, East Timor and Papua New Guinea before his Baghdad stint. "We think of our home and families."
There are about 350 Fijian soldiers and security guards working for the United Nations in Iraq. There are another 150 or so working for private security firms in the country.
Fiji trailing–but not by much
At half time, Fiji trails, but not by much. The Fijians know they are the underdogs but feel they can prevail.
"We're going to win this game, we are going to win, I'm confident," said a man called Osiri.
An on-duty guard wearing the trademark U.N. blue helmet opens the door briefly to peer at the screen then ducks away.
A burly man wears a white T-shirt with "Go Fiji Go" and a picture of a palm tree scrawled on with a marker pen.
There's laughter when a replay shows a Fijian forward stealing a South African lineout and jinking past the opposing players. And again when two crunching high tackles stop the South Africans just short of the Fijian line.
"Pull off the head!" shouts one fan to cheers. Then it's quiet. South Africa have scored and there's polite applause.
South Africa look to be stretching away, but Fiji score two sparkling breakaway tries to level the score.
The cabin erupts, everyone is on their feet, hands in the air, cheering and whistling as a Fijian winger touches down. Then it erupts again when the replay shows the ball was grounded. And a third time when the referee awards the try.
But the South Africans edge in front again and as the clock ticks down, the realization sets in that Fiji are not going to pull off what would be their greatest rugby triumph.
South Africa win 37-20. The cabin goes quiet. The throb of helicopters overhead is a sudden reminder they are still in Baghdad.
For Jack Komaitai, the game brought back memories of his own career playing on the wing for the national side.
"I was emotional to hear the national anthem and when we started playing. Even though we didn't make it through the quarter final, it's the same as Australia and New Zealand."
"I'm really proud of them and the people of Fiji are proud of them," he said. On Monday he embarks on the near two-day journey home for a break. And what's he looking forward to?
"Relaxing, beach, Fijian cooking, and kava," he says, referring to Fiji's mildly narcotic national drink.
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