Fiji to review "inconsistent" Pacific Nations Cup performances

Mon, Jul 7 03:43 AM

SUVA, Fiji (AP) _ The Fiji Rugby Union will review the "inconsistent" performance of its national team in the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament which ended Sunday, the Fiji Times reported. Fiji lost to Tonga on Saturday to finish fourth in the six-nation tournament and to drop to 11th on world rankings less than a year after reaching the last eight at the Rugby World Cup.

"Our international season ends here and we have no further commitments. What we really need to do now is review our performances and see where our strengths and weaknesses are," Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Timoci Tavanavanua said.

"We need to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward from here." Fiji entered the tournament confident of cementing its place as the top team in the Pacific.

While it achieved narrow wins over Samoa and Japan, it lost to Australia A and New Zealand Maori and to Tonga for the third time in three seasons. Tavanavanua said Fiji's performance would make it difficult for his union to press the International Rugby Board for test matches against top teams.

"We've been asking the International Rugby Board to allow us to play against Tier One nations but the main objective is to first beat Australia A and the New Zealand Maori, and win the PNC," he said. "Only then can we really be recognized as a powerhouse in international rugby.

So we need to look at where we are going wrong and work on it.".

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