Team faces uphill task: Rinakama

The Fiji Times - Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:01 PM

IT'LL be an uphill task to mould a solid combination in less than a week for the upcoming Test matches in Europe says assistant coach to the 2007 World Cup, Reverend Joji Rinakama.

He added the coaching panel would have to work out a game pattern and set strategies before the first game against Scotland on November 15.

"They have to find a pattern where players can all easily adapt to and that'll be the platform they'll work on," Rev Rinakama said.

“They should work out their set pieces, scrum, line outs and defence.If these works out well, then they can win against Scotland.

"I hope the boys playing professional club games in the Northern Hemisphere will blend in well."

He is placing his support on the team in the hope the tour will produce positive results.

"For me this is a tour of hope, in hoping everything turns right as planned," the padre said.

He said the Flying Fijians should not expect any easy game as the Northern Hemisphere rugby are on their season at the moment.

Rinakama said he had confidence in Mike Brewer because the former All Black had assessed every individual player's game fitness playing in the Northern Hemisphere selected for this tour.

They are the likes of Jone Qovu, Akapusi Qera, Netani Talei and Ifereimi Rawaqa.

"I'm concerned mostly of the forwards. This is an area the Northern Hemisphere teams are strong at and it's our weak area.

"It's our problem of not developing potential forward players who can stand up to the challenge," he said.

Fiji plays Scotland on November 15, Ireland on November 22 and Romania on November 29.