Fijiana Xvs Ready For Maori, Canada
The two Test matches against Wahine Maori and Canada will gauge the performance of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana players as they countdown to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand from October 8 to November 12. These were comments of Fijiana assistant coach Mosese Rauluni.
Fiji will take NZ Maori at 6pm on Friday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva before they face Canada next week.
Rauluni said yesterday the side has been training well for the past few weeks and these two games is crucial to test their combination.
The team returned from the Sigatoka sand dunes last Saturday.
A week before, they were at the Togalevu naval base; had their mud run and basic team building with naval officers.
“On the field they have been working hard on skills, fitness and physicality because we know the Maori will be a very physical team,” the former Flying Fijians captain said.
“We need big improvements from the Oceania game; we played against Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.”
“We got to improve big time on that. We have in fitness wise, mentally too – they have prepared well.”
“We will be looking at combinations, especially with our forwards we will need them to dominate to give quick ball to our backs.”
Playing Canada, Rauluni says, it will help set their platform.
“It is very important, Canada is in the top four; they going to set a standard through the World Cup, together with all the teams in our pool; England and France they are going to be very tough obstacles.”
“It’s good to have this test before we go to the World Cup, to see where we stand with a better opposition like NZ Maori and Canada.”
About seven Fijiana 7s players will also be included in the extended squad before head coach Senirusi Seruvakula makes his final selection.
“Those seven players will have to fit into our atmosphere,” Rauluni said.
“Senirusi will make the selection if they prove their worth.”
The Qarani, Gau, native added that his past three months in Fiji with the side has been a great experience.
“It has been good, women don’t complain like the boys, they just toughed it through. I love their attitude.”
“I have two daughters myself and it is good to coach the women’s team and hopefully they will want to come and play for Fiji one day.”
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