Former Flying Fijians flanker and Jacks Qaqa Naitasiri head Coach Koli Sewabu aims for a top finish in the 2017 Skipper Cup season.

The Highlanders recorded their first bonus win against Qaqa Namosi 33-20 in the first round and will meet Macuata at Navuso today.

Naitasiri last won the Skipper Cup in 2009 and the HFC Farebrother title in 2013. This season the Highlanders will not leave any stone unturned.

“I know we got the fighting spirit but I know we lack to play 80 minutes rugby.

“We are still six out of 10 in terms of our fitness which is good for the start of the season but by the fourth round we should hit the seven, eight mark,” Sewabu said.

He believes there is no catch up rugby this season.

“The first half of preparation for a championship is mentality. You need to develop a winning mentality and instils physiological impact on other teams.

“The other half will come from our training. It’s good the competition has been reduced to eight teams to improve the standard so you can’t play catch up rugby.

“You have to be on top of your game because the bottom two will automatically go down and top two from the bottom comes up. Every game should be treated like a final now.”

Bolstering the Highlanders forward pack are Flying Fijians prop Mesake Doge, Telecom Fijian Warriors prop Joeli Veitayaki and the return of Ben Sadrugu who was part of the winning Skipper Cup team in 2009. Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit players Eroni Mawi, Frank Lomani and Jale Railala are also in the squad.

Structural changes

“What we talked about in the past four weeks was starting afresh and changing some old habits to help strengthen our game and achieve our goals.

“And it’s the physical side of things that includes our training, focussing on our basic core skills and change in our diet during six weeks of camp.

“We have set the standard in our first game and we are working our way up and make sure we get to the top four.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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