A heated clash is on the horizon in the Southern Zone Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vodafone Deans competition as Nasinu Secondary School readies to face Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in the under-18 final.
After triumphing in their semifinal matches last weekend, Nasinu and MGM will compete this Saturday to decide the 2024 Southern Zone champion and determine who will enter the national quarterfinals as the top-seeded team.
The two teams had an earlier encounter in June, where Nasinu narrowly won 13-12 at Buckhurst Park in Suva.
Nasinu U18 head coach Mika Yasiyasi, with a confident demeanor, expressed his respect for the opponents.
“MGM has long established themselves as U17 southern zone champions, we respect them,” he acknowledged.
Nasinu, a team known for its speed, continuity, and timing, remains cautious but focused on their strategy.
“We will stick to our game plan, and we will also put effort into studying our opponent and preparing thoroughly. We aim to be well-prepared against MGM. We also wish them the best in their preparation,” Yasiyasi added.
Reflecting on the previous week’s performance, Yasiyasi emphasized the need for improved discipline in defense, noting that two of their players received red cards for dangerous tackles.
“Firstly, we need to work on our tackle alignment. Our defensive system resulted in us playing with 14 men after just 20 minutes, which was a significant setback. We must train that defensive system this week leading up to the final. Our attack is strong, but our defense needs a lot of attention.”
The Southern Zone finals are scheduled for Saturday at Buckhurst Park in Laucala Bay, Suva.