After a thrilling 50-19 win against Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup, Fiji’s captain Tevita Ikanivere and coach Mick Byrne reflected on the team’s performance and key moments from the match.
Ikanivere, who earned the title of Man of the Match, emphasized the importance of mid-game conversations that shifted the momentum in favor of Fiji.
“We talked about our discipline. We let Tonga back into the game toward the end of the first half. With a strong opponent like Tonga, if you give them some space, they will exploit it. Our main focus was to maintain discipline and control, which we successfully did in the second half,” Ikanivere stated.
Coach Byrne noted the team’s development and the valuable experiences for players in their third year of professional rugby.
“There is significant growth in this team. Many players are in their third year of professional rugby and are learning more about themselves. Today’s match was another opportunity for them to realize that they cannot let up,” Byrne explained.