Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne expressed pride in the team’s performance and resilience during their semi-final victory over the USA, which has secured their spot in the Pacific Nations Cup final.
Despite a challenging start to the match, Byrne praised his team for their patience and ability to improve as the game progressed. He noted the physicality and pressure exerted by the USA team but emphasized the Flying Fijians’ determination to prevail.
“I thought we struggled at the beginning, but credit goes to the USA for coming out strong and applying pressure that didn’t allow us to play our game,” Byrne stated. “However, we managed to remain in the contest, exercise patience, and build our gameplay, though we did concede some easy ball at times.”
Elia Canakaivata, the Flying Fijians’ number eight, was awarded player of the match for his remarkable performance, scoring two key tries that significantly contributed to their success. Canakaivata attributed part of the victory to the support from fans in attendance and expressed his gratitude to the Lord for His blessings and protection, acknowledging that his achievements would not have been possible without divine support.
The Fiji Water Flying Fijians are set to face the host nation, Japan, in the PNC final, scheduled for Saturday at 10:05 PM. Fiji enters the final as the tournament’s defending champion.