Fijiana 15s head coach Ioan Cunningham says Sunday’s clash with Scotland will be a different ball game as Fiji builds on lessons from their opening Women’s Rugby World Cup match against Canada last weekend. While Fiji didn’t fully execute the game plan, Cunningham believes there are clear building blocks the team can carry forward.
The squad spent the last 24 hours focusing on physical and mental recovery, followed by an honest review of their first appearance. Cunningham has a clear eye on tightening things up, saying the focus remains on the small wins and the process: “Focusing on those small wins and sticking to the process, I think we showed glimpses of what we can do. It’s just maybe that final pass, or just getting into position a bit earlier, and that’s what we focus on this week. If we can fix that, then we’ll do some good stuff.”
Scotland presents a notably different challenge from Canada. Cunningham noted that Scotland are a dangerous outfit on the flanks, with a varied kicking game and a strong defensive foundation. He stressed that Fiji must prioritise ball retention and discipline to trouble the Scots, adding: “We watched a little of their game against Wales, obviously very good out wide, scoring some great tries, solid defensively, and a different type of kicking game. We are going to be challenged differently, but our challenge is to hold on to the ball and we can trouble Scotland.”
Scotland enter the match ranked eighth in the world and opened their pool with a convincing 38-8 win over Wales. The Fiji women will face Scotland on Sunday morning, with kick-off at 1:45.
Context from prior coverage suggests Scotland are also emphasizing mental resilience ahead of this series, underscoring the broader match-up as not just a test of skill but of focus and composure across 80 minutes.
What to watch for
– Fiji’s execution under pressure: can the improvements seen in training translate into cleaner decision-making and more precise final passes?
– Ball control and field positioning: the emphasis will be on getting into the right spaces earlier and retaining possession against a structured Scottish defence.
– Scotland’s outside threats and kicking game: how Fiji counters Scotland’s wide threats and varied contest splits.
Commentary and outlook
This match represents a crucial opportunity for Fiji to translate incremental gains into a breakthrough performance on the world stage. If Fiji can tighten their finishing touches and maintain composure, they’ll push Scotland more than the opening result suggested. The game also offers a chance to demonstrate Fiji’s growing resilience and teamwork, with a hopeful view that steady improvement can yield a competitive showing against a top-10 side.
Summary
Fijiana eye a positive response against Scotland after an incomplete opening display, focusing on small wins, ball security, and disciplined play to challenge a Scotland side ranked eighth in the world. The match kicks off Sunday morning at 1:45 Fiji time.
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