THE Fiji under-20 side ended its South African tour on a winning note, overcoming Chile 47-31 in an entertaining encounter that showcased both the strengths and shortcomings of the Baby Flying Fijians ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Coming off defeats to Georgia and hosts South Africa, Fiji needed a response and delivered one against a Chilean side that had shown resilience throughout the U20 International Series.
The victory provided a timely confidence boost for coach Andrew Tui Osborne and his squad ahead of their departure for the global championship.
The match highlighted what Fiji does best.
When the Baby Flying Fijians played with tempo and width, they looked dangerous.
Their support play, offloading game and ability to attack from broken play created numerous scoring opportunities as they crossed for seven tries in the contest.
However, conceding 31 points will remain a concern.
While the attack clicked into gear, defensive lapses allowed Chile to remain competitive longer than Fiji would have liked.
The coaching staff will undoubtedly focus on tightening their defensive structures before facing tougher opposition at the Junior World Championship.
Several players enhanced their reputations during the tournament.
The forward pack was led by an industrious loose-forward trio that consistently carried strongly and competed hard at the breakdown despite facing physically imposing opponents from Georgia and South Africa.
Against Chile, Fiji’s forwards laid the platform that allowed the backs to play with freedom.
In the backline, Fiji’s strike runners were among the standout performers of the campaign, repeatedly creating line breaks and providing the attacking spark that kept the team competitive even in defeat against stronger opposition.
