Fiji’s Flying Fijians head coach, Mick Byrne, is determined that his team executes a full 80 minutes of quality rugby in order to secure consecutive Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) titles this Saturday.
Byrne reflected on previous matches, highlighting the team’s habit of starting slowly but expressing confidence in their overall fitness and physicality. “I believe we are physically fit enough to last the full 80 minutes. There have been times we’ve been slow to react against the maul,” Byrne remarked. He pointed to issues in their games against the USA, where they struggled with line-outs and restarts, as well as giving away avoidable penalties in the opening 20 minutes while trying to catch up.
However, once they regained their composure, the team found their rhythm. “It’s about trusting our game plan and adhering to our systems for the entire match,” he added.
Japan, under Eddie Jones, is also eyeing the PNC title, but Byrne insists that Fiji has had the same aim since the beginning. “We set this target long before facing Samoa. Our primary goal has been to win the PNC, and we aim to keep it,” he stated.
In terms of strategy, Byrne does not anticipate significant changes but recognized the necessity to address Japan’s fast-paced, wide play. “Japan prefers a quick game and often plays wide. We’re working on that, but our strategy will largely remain what we’ve been developing over the past five weeks. It’s about establishing our systems and playing our style,” he explained.
Byrne takes pride in the progress the team has made. “Most of these players are in their third year of professional rugby. We are fortunate to have talents such as Temo Mayanavanua and Albert Tuisue from the northern hemisphere, along with the Drua players, who have blended well together,” he noted. “Their camaraderie and friendship are special, and it would be a great way to conclude the tournament, especially for those completing their third year of professional rugby.”
The final match is scheduled to kick off at 10:05 PM tomorrow.