THE Warwick Navosa Rugby Union is determined to extend its historic debut season in the Skipper Cup competition when it faces Fresh Choice Tailevu in the quarterfinals this Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Navosa finished seventh in the round-robin competition, while Tailevu secured second place on the points table, setting up a challenging knockout encounter for the newcomers.
Director of Rugby Selo Sanawa said the team understood the importance of the quarterfinal and had focused on sharpening its game plan, improving execution and preparing the players physically and mentally for the challenge.
“As a management and coaching group, we understand the importance of this quarterfinal, particularly as we continue our journey in our debut season in the Skipper Cup competition,” Sanawa said.
“Our preparation has been focused on sharpening our game plan, improving our execution, and ensuring the players are physically and mentally ready for the challenge ahead.”
Sanawa said the team had analysed its previous performances, identified mistakes and worked on building confidence within the squad as it prepared for the knockout stages. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Tailevu, expecting the second-placed side to bring physicality, intensity and a strong desire to progress further in the competition. However, Sanawa said Navosa would concentrate on its own performance, with discipline, defensive organisation and decision-making under pressure among the key areas of emphasis.
“We respect what they bring to the competition, but our focus remains on what we can control as Navosa,” he said.
The match will kick off at 3pm.
