Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is counting on his team’s fitness for their Pacific Nations Cup semi-final match against the United States Eagles on Saturday night at Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Byrne noted that fitness has been a key strength throughout their Pacific Nations Cup campaign. He emphasized the team’s capability to play at a high level late into the game, applying continuous pressure on their opponents.
He mentioned that the team has been diligently preparing in training and anticipates a set of challenges centered around their defensive strategies. Byrne highlighted the necessity for physicality in their gameplay, stressing the importance of effective line defense and tackling.
The coach indicated that maintaining a disciplined performance for the full 80 minutes will be critical in the semi-final. He acknowledged the complexity of maintaining preparation consistency while training in two different countries.
Byrne also pointed out the need for aggressive line speed in defense and emphasized the importance of retaining possession against the USA, avoiding risky offloads that could lead to counterattacks.
The team’s mood remains positive, with players in good shape. Byrne praised younger players such as Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula for his capability in territorial battles and Inia Tabuavou for his smooth transition into the inside center position.