Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is relying on his team’s fitness as they prepare for their semi-final match against the United States Eagles in the Pacific Nations Cup. The game is set to take place on Saturday night at the Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Byrne highlighted the players’ fitness as a key strength during their campaign in the tournament, emphasizing their ability to maintain intensity throughout the match. “Fitness has been one of the players’ strengths in their PNC campaign,” Byrne noted after arriving in Japan. He stressed the importance of pressure in their playstyle and the challenge of maintaining that pressure as a cohesive unit.
The coach stated that the team has been dedicated in their training efforts. He acknowledged that this week presents specific challenges regarding their defense, as the match against the Eagles is expected to be more physically demanding. “We need to get off the line well and make our tackles,” Byrne added.
He emphasized the necessity of playing disciplined rugby for the full 80 minutes and maintaining consistent preparations, even while training across different countries. Byrne indicated a keen focus on improving line speed during defensive plays.
Possession retention and discipline will be crucial in their approach against the USA, as frustration from loose plays could give the opposition an advantage. “We can’t be giving them any free shots with 50/50 offloads,” he remarked.
The atmosphere in the team camp is positive, with all players reportedly in good condition. Byrne praised young talents Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and Inia Tabuavou for their performances, noting Armstrong-Ravula’s strength in the territory battle and Tabuavou’s successful adaptation to the inside centre position.