Pacific Islanders meet Italy on Saturday [1]
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 09:37. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 19:08.
The Pacific Islanders rugby team has set its mind on a victory over Italy this Saturday November 22, the last of their three games during their 2008 European tour.
Reporting from Italy, Dave Arthur the media officer, said that despite the Sports Hydrant Pacific Islanders suffering their second defeat by France 42-7 last Saturday, "everybody connected with the squad is upbeat and has vowed to channel their wholehearted efforts into defeating Italy and recording a first victory for the Pacific Islanders."
The loss to France was a big blow to morale of the team.
Any hope for a victory against France last weekend disappeared into oblivion on the 18th minute of the game after Napolioni Nalaga was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on the French No. 9. From then onward it was an up-hill battle for the Pacific Islanders with 14 players against 15 players.
Manager Sitiveni Rabuka who attended the hearing in Paris to support Nalaga said that "Napolioni is a wonderful young man, a very proud Pacific Islander and was very contrite about what happened. The committee agreed there was no malice and that the collision was essentially an unfortunate accident." Rabuka called on the team to move on and focus on the task at hand. "We are confident of victory over Italy on Saturday afternoon".
Napolioni Nalaga has been banned for three matches.
On the outcome of the game with France the Head coach Quddus Fielea was very philosophical. "It was only towards the end of the game that exhaustion got the better of us and we let in a couple of tries. The sending off of Nalaga obviously effected the game immensely however the boys played well in large patches."
With regards to the upcoming game against Italy, the Forwards coach Peter Fatialofa was very confident of a victory. "There is absolutely no reason we cannot beat Italy on Saturday. However, this is test match rugby and it will be a stern test, all the more so as Italy have also lost their two games this series."
The Sports Hydrant Pacific Islanders team for Saturday is yet to be announced.