THE Fiji Water Flying Fijians are focused on enhancing their discipline and securing a victory as they prepare to face fifth-ranked France in the Autumn International Series this Sunday.
In what will be their 12th Test encounter, France holds the upper hand with 10 wins to Fiji’s solitary victory.
Both teams are coming off recent defeats, with Fiji falling to England 18-38 and France suffering a 17-32 loss against South Africa.
Coach Mick Byrne has pinpointed discipline as a critical area for improvement, particularly after Fiji received two yellow cards against England, impacting the game’s flow and disrupting on-field management.
Byrne has also offered encouragement to players who may have missed out on selection, emphasising the importance of perseverance and highlighting the ongoing opportunities for inclusion in the squad based on game plans and player suitability.
There is always disappointment, and people might think they’re not getting looked at or they’re not a chance. There’s always a chance. Sometimes the selection goes around with the coaching group. You talk about how we want to play and what player fits that best,” he explained.
Looking forward, Byrne has confirmed plans to assess additional players to bolster squad depth in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
“As you get towards the end of 2025, we are absolutely doing everything we can to win every Test match. There’s also an eye on 2027.
“You’ve got to keep a balance between making sure that the players you’re bringing in can get better and can be at their best in 2027,”
Fiji will face France this Sunday at 8.10am in Bordeaux.
