CARELESSNESS and the strings attached to it became the heaviest price to pay for the FIJI Water Flying Fijians to get beaten 24-39 by the Welsh in their Nations Championship opener in Cardiff, Wales yesterday.
Fiji were dealt a tough blow by the Welsh, who capitalised on opportunities made at Fiji’s expense.
Interim head coach Senirusi Seruvakula remarked being careless costed them greatly.
“We had a lot of opportunity in the first half; we felt that we were on a roll, but there were some areas where we were careless,” Seruvakula pointed out to Welsh journalists in the post-match press conference.
“We were pushing the pass, that cost us the penalties and denied our opportunity to score also.”
Flying Fijians captain Tevita Ikanivere said playing the Fijian brand of rugby was a risky move to make.
“I think we want to play our brand of rugby, but it comes with a risk,” Ikanivere said.
“It’s about balance, it’s about knowing where to kick and where to go.”
He added if the team had exercised more patience in the opener, the full-time result would have been more different.
“I think if we had been more patient, we would have gotten over the line but against a quality side like Wales, if you don’t make your scores when you get the opportunity, it bites you back.”
And it bit them back strongly, particularly when Fiji drew with Wales 10-all at half-time after a first half marred by near misses of the try-line and a Welsh team that saw right through the Fijian defence and gave the starting XV something to worry about.
The team, with a narrow points difference, had to start an uphill climb after the break where a lead seemed so close but the action left it so far.
“Careless” mistakes made by Fiji included a try scored by Wales’ Josh Adams by stamping his hand on the ball near the end of the try-line as Selestino Ravutaumada, directly above him, had waited for the ball to roll dead and did not see Adams sneak up to score.
Heading into their second match against England this week, Ikanivere and Seruvakula remain optimistic about what their second fixture will bring while affirming a lot more will have to be addressed before taking on the English.
“We will definitely be better. We’ve got lessons to learn from this game, we’ve got positives too,” Ikanivere said.
Seruvakula thanked the Fijian fans who turned up to cheer on them.
This week, the Flying Fijians head upward to face England in Liverpool this Sunday at 1.10am.
