12 Oct 2016

Sport: Fiji Warriors and Samoa A prepare for Pacific derby

2:06 pm on 12 October 2016

Fiji Warriors and Samoa A put their winning records on the line tomorrow morning in the World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge.

A new-look Fijian side, with only a handful of players backing up from the Pacific Rugby Cup earlier this year, thumped USA Selects 62-12 at the weekend in Montevideo, while the Samoans slotted a last minute penalty to topple hosts Uruguay A 44-42.

Fiji Warriors were too strong for USA Selects.

Fiji Warriors were too strong for USA Selects. Photo: Uruguay RU

Fiji coach Senirusi Serevakula said they want to improve their set pieces in what is "the important game of this tour".

"In the scrum mainly and also in the lineout. We just want (them) to go out there and express their individual talent and getting possessions and make use of the pace and where they're going to run, that's what we're going to concentrate on Wednesday.

"But mainly we need to be very disciplined and have the right attitude on Wednesday because we know it's going to be tough, it's going to be physical against our rival in the Pacific Islands."

"We watched that game on Saturday after our game and then we reviewed it again today before we went into two sessions training, Always playing against Samoa it's going to be tough and this competition it's two pool and you play across (pools). so there's no place to lose in any game.

"Who wins this game is going to depend who's going to play in the final against Argentina."

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Photo: supplied

The Fiji Warriors are no stranger to playing in South America, having beaten the Uruguay senior team in two matches back in May.

Six players remain from that side while four have been capped by the Flying Fijians.

Senirusi Serevakula said their aim is to be a stepping stone to higher honours.

"As my job as a coach, it's always the second team, it's always the development team and it's always trying to bring up the local (players) back home - to expose them to this level and fill the environment what is going through in the Flying Fijians," he said.

"I have my two technical coaches here, Alan Muir and Andre Bell, after this they are going to the Fiji team to the Northern tour, so it's a good experience for the locals."

The Argentina XV opened their account with a resounding 56-29 victory against Canada A and take on Uruguay A in their next match.

Samoa A edged hosts Uruguay A at the death.

Samoa A edged hosts Uruguay A at the death. Photo: Uruguay RU