Judgment, experience

WE have to thank the NZRU for granting our national team the opportunity for the two rugby Test series on July 10 and 17, 2021.

The NZ All Blacks players have just finished the Aotearoa/TransTasman Rugby Competition with intensified physical and mental fitness still well-compacted in place.

In the first Test, the Fiji team did very well above expectation in the first spell showing great cohesion with aggressive physical momentum that made the All Blacks back paddle in most aspects of the game.

For 20 minutes, the All Blacks were kept scoreless.

It was the same in the second Test but in most cases, the continuity of converting opportunities to points, with unnecessary penalties, always appeared progressively. Although the final score deficit increased by 17 points from the first Test, generally, our national team improved dramatically.

My take is, the FRU has to review the team’s structural composition as best 70 per cent overseas to 30 per cent locals. This platform would boost the moral of our local players and simultaneously, investing for future international rugby matches.

However, there were a “few” players still being included, who should have been replaced, before the two Tests. Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that originated from bad judgment. Do not judge by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.

Our national team tried, failed again, but failed better.

SAMU SILATOLU

Nakasi