There is a noticeable difference in conditioning and game speed between players competing in the Skipper Cup and those in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. This observation was made by Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne during an interview with SUNsports. He explained why Naitasiri hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua was the only local-based player selected for the Flying Fijians squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.
Byrne pointed out, “At this early stage, we have a fully professional rugby setup where players wake up in the morning, train, and focus on rugby as their work.” He emphasized that one of the challenges ahead is to enhance the performance levels of Skipper Cup teams to align with the desired fitness standards.
The coach expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Skipper Cup coaches to bridge the gap between the two competitions. “We received valuable scientific feedback from our players in the Skipper Cup this year concerning their energy and performance metrics,” Byrne noted. He mentioned that there are talented players worth nurturing for the Fijians Warriors program.
Byrne is optimistic that these promising players from the Skipper Cup could eventually be recruited into the Drua franchise club. “These athletes might earn their place in our team through the Warriors,” he added.
In other news, the inclusion of France-based Adrea Cocagi in the Flying Fijians squad is aimed at strengthening the second-five-eighth position. Cocagi, who plays prominently for Castres in this season’s Top 14 competition, is recognized for his strong running ability in the midfield. “Cocagi is a powerful ball carrier, which is crucial as we face our Pacific rivals,” Byrne stated.
Cocagi has already made two Test appearances for the Flying Fijians under coach Vern Cotter. He comes from Nuku Village in Serua and previously played for Lomary Secondary School before joining the NRL club Newcastle Knights. Byrne mentioned the PNC campaign would provide a platform to assess the players, noting that the absence of hooker Zuriel Togiatama is due to family commitments in Auckland, New Zealand.
“I spoke with Simione Kuruvoli, who has been actively playing since the World Cup, and I believe he deserves some time off to be with his family,” Byrne commented. The 30-member Flying Fijians squad is set to report to camp tomorrow.