Women’s Rugby coaching director Chris Cracknell believes it will be a tough battle for the Telecom Fijiana side in the next Women’s 7s Series in Sao Paulo from February 20 to 21.

The team is pooled alongside Australia, Canada and Ireland in Pool A.

Cracknell said it would be three tough matches as they build up for the Rio Olympic Games in August.

“We’ve got Australia first.  I watched them play last weekend in Sydney and they were very skilful,” Cracknell said.

“We play against Canada second and I am sure when we face them they will want to get back at us.

“Ireland is getting better and better and they scored a couple of tries against Australia last weekend.

“They are were very physical bunch and they stay within the time and never gave up,” Cracknell said.

The Telecom Fijiana team would have to lift their performance, he said.

“The girls were working on their skills and fitness level.

“We really need to get our baseline fitness level up because it was not where we wanted it before Coral Coast.

“So we have  to put in more extra work.

“The girls are well and fit and we need them to play in the attacking side.

“That is what we all saw in Dubai and we want to continue with that self-belief that we will go and knock over the big teams,” Cracknell added.

“We’ve got to make sure that we get better and keep raising our performances every time we play.”

Daveiua’s fitness

Meanwhile, Cracknell is impressed with Fijian Pearls’ defender Raijeli Daveiua fitness level.

Daveiua joined the Telecom Fijiana 20-member squad after the Coral Coast 7s last month.

“I brought her in the winger and rover option.

“But at the moment it’s just getting her development understanding on the standards we set in camp.

“She did very well in the fitness test on Monday and we just need her to get embedded in the squad a little bit more,” Cracknell said.

The final 12-member team will be named tomorrow at the Uprising Beach Resort.