Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is exploring various combinations within his 28-member squad during the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). In a recent conversation with SUNsports, Byrne noted that the interplay between the forwards and backs is consistently coming together.
He mentioned the size of the squad, stating, “It’s a tiny squad; 28 isn’t a big number.” With a few backup backs available, the team has the ability to experiment with different lineups without exhausting their options. Byrne is uncertain about how their combinations will evolve later in the tournament, but he emphasized that the process is ongoing.
“We’re just working through that, and everyone’s getting a chance. It’s not like we have four or five players sitting on the sideline not getting used. Everyone’s getting used in such a small squad,” he said.
Looking ahead to the upcoming challenge against Tonga next Friday, Byrne expressed awareness of the atmosphere they will face. “It’s the same playing Fiji in Fiji, playing Samoa in Samoa, playing Tonga in Tonga. We know what the fans are like in the Pacific Islands. They love their home teams.”
Byrne acknowledged the pressure they will experience but remains focused on their objectives. “We just have to make sure that we understand what we’re trying to do, so on the day we can stay focused on what we want to achieve. The other stuff will just become outside noise. We’re looking forward to that. It’s the same when the people come and play us.”
Meanwhile, burly prop Ben Tameifuna is set to captain Tonga in their PNC opener against Samoa in Apia, which is crucial for both teams.
This Weekend’s Schedule includes:
Today: 4pm Samoa vs Tonga
Sunday: 1pm USA vs Canada
Recent Results:
Fiji 42 – 16 Samoa
Canada 28 – 55 Japan