As the FIJI Water Flying Fijians gear up for their Pacific Nations Cup semi-final against the USA tomorrow, head coach Mick Byrne emphasizes the critical need for ball control. After a tough win against Tonga last week, Byrne is determined to prevent his team from making the same errors as they face a confident USA squad.
“USA will be coming in with a lot of confidence,” Byrne stated. Reflecting on the previous match against Tonga, he highlighted the importance of minimizing risky plays.
“We want to hang on to the ball. I believe we perform well when we can maintain possession through multiple phases, which makes discipline essential. Last week, we made some questionable offloads that resulted in turnovers, including several passes that went into touch. Those mistakes cost us against Tonga, and they will be detrimental against any opponent, especially one as aggressive as the USA.”
Byrne’s strategy for the upcoming match centers on disciplined play and controlling the game, avoiding unnecessary off-loads while adhering to their structured approach.
“We cannot afford to give the USA free opportunities. Keeping the ball in our hands and playing our style of rugby will be vital.”
With both teams competing for a place in the final, the Flying Fijians aim to refine their performance and execute their game plan as they take on a formidable USA team in the semi-final. Fiji is set to face the USA at 10:05 PM in Japan tomorrow.