Fijiana lock Asinate Serevi knows full well that the game against the Canadians this week will be faster and tougher, and one which requires the home side to work together and step up their game, her included.
The Fijiana scored six tries to defeat the Wahine Maori 32-10 in Suva last Friday, but the Qarani lass from Gau who is fondly known as Nate insists that while the game served as a great hit-out for the side ahead of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month, they missed out on a lot of scoring opportunities.
“For me, half of the time I am thinking of the things I could have worked on because I know that that cost us a lot of tries. The mistakes that we made, especially me I can work on that because that is what I can control. I think I played well, but I don’t think I played goodenough,” Nate said as she reflected on her performance.
“I will definitely step up, do things better, listen to our game drivers, and complete every tackle that I make.”
After the hit-out last Friday evening at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, the 27-year-old says the focus this week has been largely around controlling aspects of the game that they can control.
The Fijiana match-up against the Canadians, who are ranked third on World Rugby’s women’s ranking, is scheduled for a 6pm kick-off at the same venue this Friday.
Like the previous games, the Wahine Maori match-up Nate said was a great build-up to the RWC2021, providing much-needed openings for the team to gauge their form and readiness.
“The girls had a lot of fun playing. We know that they (Wahine Maori) were going to be tough, and were going to be aggressive as well, so I think that was helpful for our team going forward,” Nate said.
Describing her experience since joining the Fijiana XVs playing roster for the fourth month going, she says out of all teams she has played for, nothing compares to running alongside her fellow countrywomen.
“I’ve come back to family.”
Nate is part of the Fijiana XVs extended squad looking to secure a spot in head coach Senirusi Seruvakula’s final 32-member squad to the RWC in New Zealand.
Ranked 21st on World Rugby’s Women Ranking the Fijiana have been grouped in Pool C with England, who currently sit atop the standings, fourth-ranked France and South Africa who come in at 11th. The Fijiana will open their RWC2021 campaign against England at 3.45pm (Fiji Time) Saturday 8 October.
