Transcript
SENIRUSI SEREVAKULA: Some of these players have been with me for the past three years as coach of the (Fiji) Warriors so we've been doing traveling also, playing overseas and playing here in the Pacific Rugby Challenge. I just have to believe my players: impossible is nothing, it doesn't matter we're playing against Super Rugby players - we just have to be very smart and have confidence going into this tournament.
VINNIE WYLIE: This is kind of the next step really isn't it?
SS: It's a huge step. A lot of these guys they come from the pathway from the Fiji Secondary Schools to the Under 20s and to the Warriors and they've been in the system. We have ten players (in the wider squad) who have already played for the Flying Fijians, and they have already played test rugby, in this NRC team. It's a huge thing for Fiji especially to be included in the NRC, which takes more than eight weeks competition, so this isthe first time a national team in Fiji's going into a long period in the competition so it's a great exposure for the local guys based here in Fiji and it boosts also the local competition in Fiji so it was tough selecting the extended squad and then cutting down the numbers and the guys just putting their hands up, they were really keen to play in this competition.
VW: And what do you know about your opponents - obviously Brisbane City first then you're away to Melbourne then you've got two games at home in Sigatoka and Suva?
SS: Especially our first game with Brisbane City - we've been reviewing their games from last year but we understand it's going to be a different year again. They love to play hard on the forwards and they keep everything close within the forwards. I think we've done our part in reviewing all that and we just have the right attitude and the confidence in going there and trying to put our mark - that's what we want to do in this first round, to put our mark against Brisbane City and Melbourne Rising.
VW: And do you have sort of something in the back of your mind what would be an acceptable finish in the whole tournament? Are you just trying to get that first win, are you just taking it one game at a time or do you believe you can make the top half or make the playoffs?
SS: The confidence is there that we want to make the finals, we want to make the finals but as a coach we will take one step at a time, one game at a time and then...do the work-ons from there, but the confidence and the talk in the team (is) that we really want to make it into the top four and be recognised in this first time in this competition".
