Hansen call on fans for suport
November 6, 2002

Fearing a disappointing turnout from Wales' rugby loving public, national coach Steve Hansen has made a public call for support for this weekend's game with Fiji insisting his side will get better.

"A lot of people have jumped up and down and made noises about what they thought was a poor performance but I think that shows a little bit of naivety," Hansen told the Western Mail, responding to criticism of his following their victory over Romania last weekend.

"You don't get a team together in five days, particularly when you make as many changes as we did. It comes with time and to beat them 40-3 is a good result.

"We made 13 line breaks and scored four tries. When have you seen Wales make that many line-breaks? We have just got to get our support lines right."

Ticket sales for the game with Fiji were last night understood to be about 21,000.

"It will be an exciting game of football," Hansen added. "Both sides will go out with the idea of playing attractive rugby."

"This is another building block, another step in the process of where we want to be. There will certainly be some questions asked.

"Fiji won the South Pacific title which put them ahead of teams like Samoa. And we know how Samoa have done against Wales in the past.

"Fiji are an exciting side. If you turn the ball over against them they have got the pace and skills to score from anywhere. We have to control the ball.

"I think people (Welsh fans) need to get down here (Millennium Stadium) and have a look at it. Fiji have got some exciting players and we know we can play better."

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