Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has praised his team following their impressive 42-16 victory over Samoa in the opening match of the 2024 Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, which took place in Suva last Friday. Byrne was especially impressed with how the young squad, bolstered by experienced veterans, rose to the occasion.
“They performed excellently right from the start,” said Byrne. “Given that they had only three training sessions that week, their discipline, particularly in the first half, was admirable. The coaching staff also did a fantastic job in guiding them.”
He also highlighted the strong performances of the debutants, noting their ability to deliver in front of a home crowd. “You could sense their nerves, but they aimed to perform well. I thought they handled the ball effectively,” he commented.
With the Flying Fijians on a bye week in Pool A of the Pacific Nations Cup, focus shifts to this weekend’s match between Tonga and Samoa. The team will utilize this break to prepare for their upcoming challenge against Tonga.