2009 Pacific Rugby Cup is all on.

After a long hot summer of fitness and watching non contact sport, the men in Fiji got their chance to muscle it up and start their challenge for Pacific Rugby Cup.

Sigatoka was the venue and on a very hot and muggy afternoon the Warriors and the Barbarrians aimed at each other. With lots of practice and little actually game time thus far, the standard was very high. Tackles were brutal & so early on in the season they were right on target, and some panel beating will be required in some ribs tonight. Most of this reconstruction will be required on the bodies of the Baba’s side, they were well in the hunt at half time, but the men in white ruled supreme today in a clinical display.

Conditions were a little damp too after some light raindrops visited the park. This initially brought about some hesitant play, both sides were content to kick the ball away rather than make a mistake. The first half had 3 tries in it, but the second 40 was really where the men were separated from the boys tonight.

Early in the second half the Babas had a prop sent to the bin & within milliseconds the Warriors pounced to score. This try had them in a frenzy and they were diving over for another 5 pointer minutes later. With this the momentum swung their way and they rode the wave of dominance all the way home. The Warriors changed the tune and attacked at all costs, at times they crashed into a tackle and spilled the ball, but the positive mind set and confidence to have a go saw them win easily & in style.

In the past years they have had some very close matched and the local derby has been a beauty, today there was only one team with the hunger and they have sent a message to Tonga and Samoa that this season they will be hard to beat.

In the end the Warriors ran out 47-8 winners, they will take a lot away with them from tonight’s display and under the watchful eyes of national coach Illy Tabua a couple of men put there hands up to say hey I wouldn’t mind playing for Fiji this year!

The Babas were outgunned, but they were also a young team. They will be hurting alright and won’t want to look anyone in the eye tonight, but the good part is that in a weeks time they have the chance to turn the tide and get themselves back in this tournament.