HEAD coach of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians, Mick Byrne, says the players from the Fijian Drua have been gelling well with the European based players in the squad ahead of their Test against the Wallabies this Sunday in Australia.
Byrne made these sentiments when asked how they were faring, and he says the relationship between them is a continuation of their time together during the November Tests.
“It’s been good, I think a lot of the players from Europe were part of the November Tour and a lot of them were part of the World Cup so there’s a good relationship there,” Byrne told this newspaper in Newcastle yesterday.
While the camaraderie continues from that expedition, he shared a challenge accompanying it was the brief window of preparation.
“I think our challenge has been sort of getting together in a short period of time. From last Friday, having a couple of training sessions.
“We got the tail end of a cyclone bomb on Wednesday (two days ago) which knocked us around a bit, but we had a really good session there today.”
The team had been training since their arrival into Australia and an onset of rainy weather throughout the week until yesterday, when fine weather settled in, had prevailed.
“The boys have gelled well today (yesterday) and it was pleasing to see the intensity that they trained in today.”
His comments on their preparation were expressed after the team’s match-day 23 was named yesterday.
There was a mix of overseas-based players and those from the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua within the final-23, selected for their first Test from the 32-member training squad.
The team will be led by Fijian Drua skipper Tevita Ikanivere, reprising his role in the November Tests.
The match kicks off on Sunday at 3.30pm at the McDonald Jones Stadium.
