Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has announced his selection of 23 players for today’s Pacific Nations Cup opener against Samoa at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Byrne expressed confidence in the chosen lineup, stating, “This is the best combination we can select around the Northern and Southern hemisphere players.” He noted that despite a couple of injuries to monitor, the team’s training performance has been impressive.
The coach admitted to feeling a modest amount of pressure to deliver results against Samoa, acknowledging that the Flying Fijians are the defending champions of the Pacific Nations Cup. “It’s healthy pressure as that’s how you survive and there’s always a little bit of nerve in the first home game,” he said, emphasizing that his focus is on ensuring the team is prepared.
Byrne is particularly excited about the contributions of Fijian Drua players Iosefo Masi and Selestino Ravutaumada, who recently completed their Olympic Games sevens commitments. He also highlighted new combinations, including Inia Tabuavou in the center alongside Masi, and the return of a fully fit Caleb Muntz. “Vuate Karawalevu will make a run and Apisalome Vota,” he added.
The coach is aware of the formidable challenge presented by Samoa’s strong forward pack, which he expects to come at the Flying Fijians aggressively. “The battle of the islands is usually a contest by the strong forward packs,” he remarked.
Byrne also indicated the need for caution against the Samoan backline. “We have to ensure that we’re in good shape to defend against the hard short ball lines. We have to back ourselves when we play, so it’ll be a great contest as we gear up for a physical battle upfront.”