In the recent semi-final match against the USA during the Pacific Nations Cup, Mick Byrne, head coach of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians, praised the forwards’ performance in the scrum. Byrne noted that the rapport he has developed with the players has significantly enhanced their communication both on and off the field.
He observed that many of the players are still in the formative stages of their professional careers but are making commendable strides as they gain experience with each match. “Most of these players are relatively new to professional rugby. They are learning and evolving with every game,” Byrne commented.
Focusing on the team’s scrummaging, Byrne expressed satisfaction with their performance against the USA. He highlighted that the scrum had been a strength during last year’s Rugby World Cup and continued to be a standout aspect in this year’s Super Rugby competition, where the Drua’s scrum was noted as the best.
Byrne emphasized the importance of teamwork in scrummaging: “We are putting in significant effort, and the players are starting to grasp their roles. Scrummaging requires collective effort from all eight forwards, and while we had a few minor errors, overall, I thought we performed well.”
He remarked on the ongoing improvement of their scrummaging skills, noting, “It’s encouraging to see that our scrummaging continues to develop. Last year, we had the top scrum at the World Cup, and now we can confidently say we excelled in Super Rugby as well. This recognition shows that we are capable in the scrum, which is very satisfying.”
Additionally, Byrne praised the players for their self-motivated spirit and their initiative in striving for improvement. The team’s determination to push themselves further has been a significant factor in their growth.
Looking ahead, the Flying Fijians are set to defend their Pacific Nations Cup title against Japan this Saturday at 10:05 PM at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka, Japan.
