Mick Byrne is focused on the game ahead as he prepares the Flying Fijians for this Sunday’s Test match against the Wallabies. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Wallabies v Fiji
Kick-off: 3:30pm, Sunday 6 July
Newcastle International Sports Centre, Sydney
Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne faces a bigger challenge off the field than he does on it, as his warriors prepare for Sunday's one-off Test against the Wallabies.
That challenge staying focused on the game ahead and not thinking back on the last time the two teams met in 2023, when the Fijians, under former mentor Simon Raiwalui, stunned the Australians - and the world - by defeating the then Eddie Jones-coached Australian side 22-15 in a Rugby World Cup upset.
The group stage victory over the Wallabies almost two years ago was the Fijians first in 69 years.
Byrne told Fijian media during an online conference from Sydney on Wednesday that everyone has been challenged to focus on Sunday's clash in Newcastle.
Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is now in charge of the Wallabies, with a new support team of assistants coaches.
"I think that's up to them," Byrne said, while answering a question on whether he thought the Wallabies would be coming at Fiji with that result in mind.
"They'll just be another Wallabies team that are prepared really well. The coaching group [is] very good, and they'll be bringing intensity to this test match.
"It's a different coaching group, they're playing a different brand of rugby to what was played back then. I'm not sure they'll have their eye on two years ago. I think they'll have their eye firmly planted on Sunday.
"And we've got the same; it's the game in front of us that's the most important one."
Levani Botia of Fiji passes the ball whilst under pressure from Tom Hooper and Richard Arnold of Australia during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. 17 September 2023 Photo: Pauline Ballet - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
On the field, Byrne knows the Wallabies will be clinical and tough, expecting their hosts to come hard at them at every opportunity.
He said Schmidt would not leave any stone unturned during his team's preparation.
"There's not much detail that the Joe doesn't stay on top of, so they'll be very clinical, they'll understand their game really well," Byrne said.
"They've had a lot of lot of opportunity to be together this year. They've had camps, they've been in training program now for two weeks leading into the test match. So they'll be well drilled.
"We will be ready for them."
Tough Fiji winger Josua Tuisova and the Flying Fijians during a training session in Newcastle as they prepare for this Sunday’s Test match against the Wallabies. 1 July 2025 Photo: Fiji Rugby
Changed Wallabies
Having had one season with the Wallabies last year Byrne said Schmidt knows what he can change, especially as they are also facing the British Lions in three test matches after playing Fiji.
With their first Test against the British and Irish Lions looming in Brisbane on July 19, the Wallabies are juggling two different preparations and timelines but Byrne believed master tactician Schmidt will have his team primed.
"I think they'll be well-versed in their game as they've had camps and they've been together for two weeks so they'll know the sort of rugby they want to play," Byrne said of the Wallabies.
"They have the same coaching group from last year and they may have tweaked a few things but I expect that they'll be pretty well versed in what they need to do, and they'll be able to come out on Sunday and present themselves at their best."
Byrne said their focus right now is on their own game and what they will need to do.
"Our focus will be on getting our game right, bringing our energy we're expecting," he said.
"Obviously, the Wallabies are a tough team at any any stage."
The match will be attended by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka, and Byrne said he would like the Vuvale Bowl to be an annual Test fixture.
Fiji are hosting Scotland in Suva following the Wallabies Test.
"An annual home and away series would be awesome - get Australia out of their comfort zone and come and play us in in Suva or in Fiji somewhere, that would be awesome," Byrne said.
Fraser McReight on attack v the All Blacks in Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship rugby union Test match at Sky Stadium, Wellington in September last year. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
'Excited for the challenge' - McReight
Meanwhile, Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight told The Sydney Morning Herald that the last time they played Fiji "was such a dreadful performance" that he had tried to erase it from his memory.
But Schmidt revisited the game through video clips that the players watched.
"It's a tricky one," McReight was quoted as saying.
"We watched some clips, obviously, in the Fiji week being this week, and that game came up, and a lot of the clips were the first time I had rewatched parts of that game."
McReight insisted there had been no talk this week of avenging the loss, just about approaching the Fijians with the respect they have earned.
"Personally, I'm not worried too much about the revenge, because two years ago is a long time," he said.
"It's a completely different squad, and we're just really excited for the challenge that lays ahead.
"So yeah, this isn't a warm-up game for sure. This is a game that we need to get ready for. It's a Test match against Fiji, who are a bloody good side."
Both teams are expected to name their lineups on Thursday.
