Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is dedicated to ensuring his team delivers a complete 80 minutes of quality rugby as they aim for back-to-back Pacific Nations Cup titles this Saturday.
Byrne reflected on past performances, noting the team’s tendency to start slowly, but he remains confident in their fitness and physicality. “I believe we’re physically fit enough for the full 80 minutes. However, we were occasionally slow to react against the maul,” he remarked.
Looking back at their match against the USA, Byrne identified missed line-outs and restart opportunities, mentioning that they gave away several avoidable penalties during the first 20 minutes while trying to catch up. “But once we calmed down, we started to perform better,” he added.
Byrne emphasized the importance of trusting their game plan and adhering to their systems throughout the match. Japan, led by Eddie Jones, is also eyeing the PNC title, but Byrne insists that Fiji has had the same goal from the very beginning. “We established that target long before we faced Samoa. Our primary objective was to win the PNC, and we aim to retain it,” he stated.
In terms of tactics, Byrne does not anticipate significant changes but acknowledges the need to be aware of Japan’s fast-paced and expansive style of play. “Japan prefers to play quickly and exploit the wide areas. We’ve been preparing for that, yet our strategy will remain consistent with what we’ve been developing over the past five weeks,” he explained.
Byrne takes pride in the progress the team has made, noting that most players are in their third year of professional rugby. “We are fortunate to have players like Temo Mayanavanua and Albert Tuisue, who bring experience from the northern hemisphere, alongside the Drua players who have formed a strong connection. Their camaraderie is remarkable, and it would be a fantastic way to conclude the tournament, especially for those completing their third year of professional rugby,” he remarked.
The final match is scheduled to kick off at 10:05 PM tomorrow.