12 Mar 2016

Sport: Sunwolves determined to prove themselves

12:00 pm on 12 March 2016

Sunwolves first five Tusi Pisi believes the Super Rugby newcomers will be a much better team for having another two weeks of training under their belt.

Tusi Pisi during the Sunwolves debut Super Rugby match against the Lions in Tokyo.

Tusi Pisi during the Sunwolves debut Super Rugby match against the Lions in Tokyo. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Japanese franchise were beaten 26-13 by the Lions in Tokyo last month in their first ever Super encounter and return to action tonight against the Cheetahs at their alternative home ground in Singapore.

The team only had a couple of weeks together before the start of the season and have been written off by many in the media and rugby fraternities but Samoa international Pisi said the Japanese are resilient people and players that work really hard.

According to Pisi their sole focus is on getting better.

"For us it's just proving to ourselves that and making sure that we prepare to win every week. I think that's going to be (what) the challenge is."

"We're not really worried about the outside influence or what everyone is talking about - it's about every week preparing to win and knowing the intensity that we have to be at every week to win and that's the most important thing to us is being accountable for our own performances and obviously for each other" he said.

And joining Tusi Pisi in the Sunwolves lineup this weekend is former Tonga Under 20s rep Liaki Moli at blindside flanker and Tonga-born centre Mifiposeti Paea on the bench.