Fiji Water Flying Fijians captain Tevita Ikanivere emphasises the need for the team to enhance their execution and address any weaknesses as they prepare to face Samoa in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup this Saturday.
Following their impressive 32-10 victory over Tonga in their first match on home soil, the team is focused on learning from their mistakes and making improvements before taking on Samoa.
Ikanivere recognises the high stakes against Samoa, particularly on New Zealand turf, and highlights the importance of minimising errors and optimising scoring opportunities.
“As coach said (Mick Byrne), a bit frustrating, not capitalising on all the chances we got, dropping the ball too much in the contact area, and I know the boys are frustrated about that and are looking to build and get better for Samoa.”
While he admits their last performance may not have met tier-one standards, he’s confident the team is only going to get better from here as they work on their weaknesses.
Byrne echoes this sentiment, noting inconsistencies in ball retention and breakdown play in the team’s first game.
He commends the team’s patience and resilience in the match, but acknowledges room for improvement, especially in carrying the ball effectively.
“Our boys did well to hang in there with the patience in this sort of game, but again we were a bit loose on a couple of our carriers, and we can improve in that area.”
The match kicks off at 3pm at the Rotorua International Stadium.