FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has accepted full responsibility for his side’s disappointing 8-73 defeat to England and is urging the people of Fiji to remain patient as the national side prepares for a crucial showdown against Scotland this weekend.
Facing the media ahead of the third round of the Rugby Nations Championship, Seruvakula acknowledged the frustration surrounding Fiji’s performance but insisted the team was determined to respond.
“At the end of the day, the head coach will get hanged for the result and that’s rugby,” he said.
“I expect that and I deserve criticism because of last week and I have to grab it with both hands, all of those criticisms.”
Seruvakula admitted the campaign had presented a steep learning curve, both for him and the players, as Fiji competes in the tournament for the first time.
“This is my first time as head coach of the Flying Fijians and it’s a big competition. It’s Tier One and it’s the first time the Flying Fijians are heading into this competition,” he said.
He said supporters also needed to understand the challenges the team had faced in assembling a squad from across the globe before taking on some of the world’s best teams.
“We came in, this is our second week together and we are playing tier one, six nations rugby teams. They’ve been together, they’ve been playing in one country, and they’ve been having games before we arrived,” Seruvakula said.
“But in rugby there will be no excuses again.”
Seruvakula said the players had quickly adapted after arriving from different parts of the world.
He said every member of the management and playing group had an important responsibility.
“Everyone has a role in the team, the system coaches, the backline coaches, the scrum coaches, the collision coaches. The players also have their roles.”
The England defeat, he said, had left its mark on the squad.
“The players had pain last week and it was disappointing for us coaches, but we have to go forward. It’s another game, it’s another week, it’s another battle.”
