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22 March, 2026, 12:05 am
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22 March, 2026, 12:05 am Central - 25°C Rain

We need to increase ball in play time and intensity to compete with Tier 1 teams - Byrne

We need to increase ball in play time and intensity to compete with Tier 1 teams - Byrne

By Alipate Narawa
21/08/2024
Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne

Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has already set his sight on the next Rugby World Cup in Australia saying there are a couple of things they need to do before they can compete with Tier 1 teams.

Byrne says as a coach, they have some good planning, analysing, and homework to do.

He says what they know in theory is that when they play Tier 1 teams like the All Blacks, Springboks, England, Scotland, Ireland and other teams, is the ball in play time.

The coach says when they played Georgia, ball in play time was around 20 to 28 minutes, whereas the next tier up it is around 36 minutes and with greater intensity.

He says for Fiji, they need to meet the intensity of the standards they want to get to which is the Tier 1 and that will be a challenge for them moving forward.

Byrne says what they have learnt is where they are and where they need to be moving in the bigger picture.

He says the players are aware of that, and what is needed with the game against Samoa tomorrow where they will get another chance to show where the team is.

He says they will review afterwards what they still need to do to get where they need to be, which is competing with the Tier 1 teams at the Rugby World Cup in 4 years.

The Flying Fijians play Manu Samoa at 6pm tomorrow in the first round of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup at the HFC Bank Stadium.

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