Fijiana to work on game management
Vodafone Fijiana Drua front rower, Bitila Tawake, said they would work on improving their set pieces and game management before Saturday’s Test match against the Australian Wallaroos at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
The Test match will be the curtain raiser to the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash between hosts NSW Waratahs and Swire Shipping Fijiana Drua. Tawake, who captained the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua to retain the Super W title, said the squad should be finalised this week.
She said the team also had to prepare for the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship at the Gold Coast in Australia, from May 26 to June 4.
“I think after the loss against the Reds (during the round robin competition), we just hit rock bottom the for a while.
“Then we collected ourselves and the team leaders urged the girls to win the semifinal,” Tawake said of their 20-17 win over Waratahs.
“Personally, we shed a lot of blood and tears throughout the season and it’s just rewarding to win the championship again.
“It meant a lot not just to the new girls but to the old girls that have left and have gone to other clubs. Retaining the title means a lot to us.
“One thing we could take from that is our love for each other and working together during the game. “Other than that we didn’t want to give up the trophy,” she said. Tawake also acknowledged the support from Fijians here and abroad for backing them.
“It means a lot to us, the support throughout the season.
“Even when we hit rock bottom and those three losses in Australia, the fans and supporters still came out strong and supported us through messages or on social media,” she said.
Other players to join the Fijiana XVs squad are tireless No.8 Sereima Leweniqila, Luisa Tisolo, Karalaini Naisewa, Siteri Rasolea, Kolora Lomani and Raijeli Laqeretabua from Western Force The Fijiana Test match against the Wallaroos is at 7pm followed by the Drua showdown with the Waratahs at 9.35pm.