POSSESSION will be a vital aspect the Vodafone Fijiana XV will work on this week, ahead of their Test match against the Wallaroos this Saturday in Suva.
Fiji Rugby Union’s women’s high performance unit manager Alana Thomas shared that with this newspaper in a recent media conference with the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua.
The team faces the Australian team as part of a double header fixture with the Drua, who face the Queensland Reds prior to the Test.
“Obviously, we’ve got a new head coach coming in this year, so he’s obviously got some thoughts around how he wants to play,” Thomas stressed.
“But I think, again, going back to the contact area is a massive part of the game, being able to maintain your own ball, but also to deny the opposition time.
Thomas further explained how the team would work on the contact area for the Test.
“As I said, the contact area, the ability to keep the ball in hand, is something we want to continue to work on and follow on from last year and coming into Super Rugby and then onto the international windows,” she said.
The team faces the Wallaroos, a powerful Australian side seeking to cement a fourth win over the home side.
Fiji is yet to win a match over the visitors, with their 2024 Test ending in a 5-64 defeat.
Despite this, Thomas highlighted the robust talent prevalent within the team.
“But I think if you look at our game, our players, we look at Fiji and the style of rugby, we’re all very athletic,” she added.
“We’re very talented. It’s about the hard work that we have to do to stay in the games for the 80 minutes and the test match rugby, you can’t afford to let teams get away and get ahead of you early.
“The quality of players that we’ll be playing against, that we have is stay in that contest for 80 minutes, start strong and really finish the game.”
Meanwhile, the Wallaroos arrive into the country tonight.
