The Junior All Blacks have suggested the International Rugby Board include a sixth team into the Pacific Nations Cup to give the island teams’ better preparation for the Rugby World Cup.
JABs coach, Ian Foster suggested the IRB look to South Africa, Argentina or try to get Australia back into the competition.
“This is the only chance for the island team like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga as well as Japan to prepare for the world cup apart from their limited test matches,” Foster said.
“We coaches are always looking out for each other and given IRB includes another team in the PNC – I can promise you that the island team to benefit and grab so much positives from.”
He applauded the Fiji team’s performance saying he had seen a big change in their play.
“I was really blown away by the Fiji team we faced – I saw a lot of improvements from when I was last here in 2007.”
“Their set pieces, contact – they are becoming more physical to what we have always known of them to run the ball out wide. Now their forwards were committing and doing the hard yards.”
“Fiji has learned and improved so much. They have realised that they can’t rely on their fast backline to do the job for them all the time.”
He also commended Samoa and Tonga as well as Japan for their performance throughout the tournament.
“The level of competition has definently risen to a whole new level this year.”
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