VINOD Patel Ba Rugby head coach Ben Tora believes his side can put up a strong fight against McDonald’s Nadi when the two teams meet in the Skipper Cup quarter-final at Prince Charles Park this Saturday.
Tora knows Ba face a difficult challenge against the experienced Nadi side but is confident his players are building momentum at the right time as they prepare for the knockout stage.
Ba secured their quarter-final berth after proving their critics wrong with an emphatic 53-22 victory over Lautoka at 4R Stadium in Ba last Saturday in their final round-robin match.
The win has given Ba a timely confidence boost ahead of their crucial encounter against Nadi, who will be determined to maintain their strong form in the competition.
“Looking forward to the quarter-finals, we know we are going up against champion team Nadi. We are just building up and picking up at the right moment, and I know the boys will put up a great fight against Nadi,” Tora said.
However, Ba will need to lift their performance another level against a Nadi side that understands the demands of knockout rugby.
Nadi vice-captain Rafaele Tunidau said the quarter-finals required a different level of commitment from every player.
“Quarter-final is a different level of game. We also need to lift our level of game, we need to work together and hear one another out,” Tunidau said.
Tunidau also thanked the team’s supporters and players for their continued commitment as Nadi prepare for the important clash.
The Ba-Nadi encounter is one of four quarter-finals scheduled for this weekend as teams battle for places in the semi-finals.
At HFC Bank Stadium, Naitasiri will take on Malolo, while Tailevu face Navosa. The other quarter-final will see Nadroga host Suva at Lawaqa Park.
With the competition entering its knockout phase, all eight teams will be aiming to deliver their best performances, knowing a victory is essential to keep their Skipper Cup title hopes alive.
