Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has expressed his satisfaction with the forwards’ performance in the scrum during the recent semi-final match against the USA in the Pacific Nations Cup. Byrne noted that enhanced communication both on and off the field has improved his connection with the players.
He acknowledged that many players are still at the beginning of their professional journeys but are gaining essential experience and showing progress with each match. “I think they are still in their early stages in their professional careers. They had a good learning experience,” Byrne stated.
Specifically addressing the scrum performance, Byrne highlighted the team’s success in this area during the semi-final against the USA. He noted that they performed excellently in scrummaging during last year’s Rugby World Cup and were also recognized as the top scrum unit in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
“We’re doing a lot of work, and the boys are understanding their tasks. For scrums, effort is crucial; all eight must contribute. I thought we performed pretty well, despite a few slip-ups,” he added.
Byrne emphasized the ongoing improvement of the scrummaging and mentioned that last year they had the best scrum at the World Cup, and this year, the Drua scrum excelled in Super Rugby, indicating that they are now recognized for their scrummaging capabilities.
Additionally, he praised the team’s self-motivated spirit, pointing out their initiative to strive for improvement.
The Flying Fijians are set to defend their Pacific Nations Cup title this Saturday at 10:05 PM against Japan at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka.