The Vodafone Fijiana XV team faced a tough defeat, losing 17-45 to Manusina Samoa in the WXV3 competition that took place in Dubai yesterday. This loss stands in stark contrast to their previous performance last month, where they secured a convincing 38-3 victory over Hong Kong China.
Following the match, Fijiana XV head coach Mosese Rauluni and captain Karalaini Naisewa addressed the media about the challenging game. Rauluni expressed disappointment, stating, “We lost every physical battle on that field today. Samoa won a lot more than us and it’s just so disappointing.” He also highlighted that the effort from some players was lacking.
Captain Naisewa acknowledged her team’s efforts but pointed out deficiencies in their defense, calling for continued improvement and noting that the game did not unfold in their favor.
On the other hand, Samoa celebrated their victory. Coach Ramsey Tomokino emotional reflected on the significance of the win, saying, “I felt that we were prepared and we knew what we needed to do.”
Despite the setback, Coach Rauluni maintains a positive outlook for the future as they gear up to face Spain in their next WXV3 match this Sunday. “We’ve got another week to put this behind us, and congratulations to Samoa for putting their bodies on the line for their country. That’s something we should probably do too,” he remarked.
The Fijiana XV team is preparing for Sunday’s match as well as their upcoming Test match against Scotland next month.