FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is banking on his team’s fitness in their Pacific Nations Cup semi-final against United States Eagles on Saturday night at the Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo in Japan.

“Fitness has been one of the players’ strengths in their PNC campaign,” Byrne said yesterday after arriving in Japan.

“The ability to play late into the game, also to continually get around the corner and put pressure on,” he said.

“We’re trying to come forward as a team and put pressure on and that’s a challenge.”

Byrne said the players had been working hard at training.

“This week is going to bring a set of challenges around our defence,” he said.

“It’s going to be more physical as we need to get off the line well and make our tackles.

“We’re on top of it all; it’s just the instincts in the game sometimes there will be a few slips up in those few weeks of playing under the new laws.

“It’s going to be more physical as we need to get off the line well and make our tackles.”

Byrne said they would need to play 80 minutes of disciplined rugby in the semi-final.

“The challenge is that we’re really making sure that our preparations are consistent even though we’re training in two different countries,” he said.

“A lot of our players are looking to be more aggressive in line speed in defence.”

Byrne said they would need to retain possession and be disciplined against USA.

“We can’t be giving them any free shots with 50/50 offloads – this is going to be a big part of our game,” he said.

“The mood at camp is good and everybody is in good shape.”

Byrne singled out young players Isaiah Ar mstrong-Ravula and Inia Tabuavou.

“I like Isaiah’s ability to give us strength in territory battle as our opponents are a big physical team.

“He showed his versatility chasing through a high kick and regaining the ball.”

Tabuavou has settled in well in the inside centre position, Byrne said.

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