5 Jun 2012

Sport: Flying Fijians eager to start new chapter

10:40 am on 5 June 2012

Fiji begin their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Japan in Nagoya on Tuesday evening, eager to banish memories of a disastrous World Cup.

The Flying Fijians have a new coach in Inoke Male, 16 new caps in their PNC squad and the team will be led out by number eight Netani Talei for the first time.

Inoke Male says after a disappointing 2011 it's important for Fiji to do well in the PNC.

"This will be the biggest task for us because we need to win this to lift our standard at the IRB so that's really important to me and to the boys - some of them want to lift their status as well as to gain contracts overseas - so they'll be trying their best in these games."

Manu Samoa kick off the tournament in the earlier game against Tonga.