The Flying Fijians ability to defend well and carry strong is a warning to other teams in our pool at the Rugby World Cup in France.
FIJI Water Flying Fijians forwards (in blue, from left) Mesake Doge, Viliame Mata and Luke Tagi go through their drill at Nadi International School ground on July 26, 2023. They flew out to Apia last night to play Manu Samoa tomorrow. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
Attack wins games, defence wins title.
The phrase rang true when the FIJI Water Flying Fijians shrugged off a Tongan onslaught in their first Pacific Nations Cup outing.
Tackle counts and strong ball carries from the Flying Fijians were deadly. With 105 carries and 94 tackles against Tonga last Saturday, the Waisea Nayacalevu-captained side, will have to double that figure against Japan.
This shifted the momentum and the pace of the game allowing Fiji gain 528 running metres and scored five tries to three.
The Flying Fijians passed 129 times showing they kept the ball more and kicked 14 times during the game.
Our breakdown success rate was at 93 per cent, a positive sign moving forward in an area where teams win tournaments in the modern era.
The set pieces were critical and clinical with a 98 per cent lineout success rate, which contributed to a well-deserved try.
Winning four scrums was vital with the final one presenting a try that sealed the game.
Robust No.8 Viliame Mata led from the front when he came in while Waisea Nayacalevu controlled his young backline.
The Flying Fijians ability to defend well and carry strong is a warning to other teams in our pool at the Rugby World Cup in France.
Now we have a combination of hard running players with speed and agility with good skills across the pitch.
Our players are ruthless in defence and fast on attack, a key arsenal in our World Cup campaign.
Consistency in these two areas ahead of our remaining test matches will lay the platform for the first pool game against Wales.
With the World Cup kicking off in France on September 9, head coach Simon Raiwalui and his men continue to hit the ascendancy towards the mission at hand.
With Samoa coming up tomorrow, the Flying Fijians know they will be tough to beat in Apia.
Raiwalui will surely introduce and test out some of his players this weekend with an aim to keep building and adding depth to the side.
The Flying Fijians face Samoa, Japan, England and France before their first RWC pool game against Wales.
Raiwalui and his brigade have the whole of next month to cook something up for the Welsh.
It’s the fourth year we are facing the same nemesis. It’s time we tame the Dragon’s fire.
Could the 2007 triumph repeat itself, only time will tell when our gladiators will be put to the test.
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