A solid win!
That’s how Fiji Rugby Union chairman John Sanday has attributed the FIJI Water Flying Fijians’ seventh win of the Pacific Nations Cup.
The Mick Byrne-coached side lifted the prized silverware after a hard-fought 33-27 victory over Japan in the final at the America First Field, in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States on Sunday.
Sanday said the win was a confirmation of what the Fiji Rugby Union had been working in terms of helping build a more formidable portfolio of its teams.
“The win is a solid win. It reaffirms all that we have been working on, the coaching staff and the whole organisation of Fiji Rugby is working on, the cohesiveness and strength of character to grind out the win,” Sanday said.
He added their win yesterday after what had been an intense match of shifting domination between both teams was a chance for supporters to not have been carried away with excitement over the vast 63-10 win over Canada in the semi-final a week ago.
“I had asked the people to please calibrate the excitement over the big matches that we won over Canada.
“Let’s keep the focus on each win for each game as we move towards the Rugby World Cup in 2027.”
While he urged the team’s supporters to take stock and consider each game as it happens, he said the results were testament to the prevalence of unique strength.
“Yes, it’s encouraging, it’s a great testament to our strength of character and the theme for which the team is being built on which is mo tagane mada.”
Meanwhile, Joji Nasova, the winger who made the starting line-up for the match against Japan, was named the man of the match after a compelling performance where he scored two tries.
