Fiji Airways Drua Still in Third Place, Semifinals

The Fiji Airways Drua need a complete performance if they are to go past the semifinal stage next week.

Going down 29-36 in the Australia National Rugby Championship match to the Sydney Rays at the ANZ Stadium last night was quite disappointing.

Losing six key players to the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians is not an excuse for the lackluster performance.

While the loss maybe a blessing in disguise, we hope the players learn from the experience.

The visitors led 12 -0 at halftime and kept the momentum to score their fifth try in the third quarter to lead 29-0.

The Drua team was hardly involved in the game in the first half and they are not capable of even competing or challenging their opponents.

We cannot afford to play catch up rugby and survive in the end. Players are trained to play 80 minutes. Yesterday, Drua scored 29 points as from the third quarter and it was not enough. Players must play as a team from the first whistle to the last.

Here’s how we rate our players.

1, Eroni Mawi- Must get more experience, good effort-5-5

2- Mosese Gavidi- Should get better, learn from experience-5

3. Samu Newa- Struggled to front up, need game time-4.5 4.Mataiasi Ucutabua- Need to gain more yards with his running-4.5

5. Peni Naulago-Need to lead pack and take charge-5.5

6. Samu Saqiwa- Good effort, support play-5

7. Vasikali Mudu- Need to be more involved-5

8. Peni Raidre- Defended well, good performance-6 9. Sakiusa Gavidi-Need to organise and communicate with team-5 10. Kini Douglas- Good effort, need to improve his kicking game-5 11. Apete Daveta- Strong game, defended well-6

12, Cyril Reece-Defended well, solid effort-5.5

13. John Stewart-Led by example, need to control his temper-7.5 14. Eroni Sau- Game breaker, defended soundly-6 15. Apisalone Waqatabu-Need to improve his kicking game-5.

Fiji Airways Drua captain John Stewart on attack against Sydney Rays at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on October 28, 2017. Drua went down 36-29. Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau

Fiji Airways Drua winger Eroni Sau goes the ball as they take on Sydney Rays at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on October 28, 2017. Sau copped a yellow card for a high tackle. Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau.

Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau Fiji Airways full-back Apisalome Waqatabu finds his way past the Sydney Rays defence at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on October 28, 2017.