FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has highlighted the critical need for his team to sustain focus and intensity during their bye week as they prepare for their upcoming Pacific Nations Cup match against Tonga. The match is scheduled to take place on September 6 at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, where the Flying Fijians will face a challenging Tonga squad.
Byrne noted that maintaining concentration during the bye week is essential. “In a bye week, it’s important that we keep that focus. We have just elevated the intensity in training, and when you don’t have a clear focus until the end of the week, you need to find other ways to maintain focus and energy,” he stated. The team has incorporated more contact in their training sessions this week to boost intensity.
Player recovery is also a priority, with key athletes like Selestino Ravutaumada, Temo Mayanavanua, Inia Tabuavou, and Vuate Karuwalevu undergoing recovery processes. Byrne emphasized the importance of careful management, saying, “There’s no point in overworking them this week. We need to keep them prepared, have them working hard, and ensure they receive the necessary rehabilitation.”
Despite operating with a relatively small roster of 28 players, Byrne remains confident in the team’s ability to form effective combinations for the match against Tonga. He remarked, “Playing Tonga in Tonga is akin to facing Samoa in Samoa or Fiji in Fiji. We understand the atmosphere created by the fans in the Pacific Islands; it will provide good pressure for us. We know what we want to achieve and need to stay focused.”
Byrne concluded with a reminder to his team, urging them to “focus on getting the job done.”