‘Let’s Get It Right’
Byrne tells players to hold on to the ball
Playing again in front of the Suva crowd will boost the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in Friday’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash against the unbeaten Hurricanes.
They’ll be playing at the HFC Banks Stadium, the very same venue where the Drua upset the Hurricanes 27-24 in 2023.
The Hurricanes currently leads the Super Rugby points table. Drua head coach, Mick Byrne, yesterday said they have been working on their set piece, the very area where the Hurricanes thrive on.
“There was a scrum session and we are focusing on that,” he said. “I think if we can hang on to the ball just like anything or any condition favourable or not we are capable of anything.”
Byrne said there have been talks of the heat and the wet when it comes to the Drua home games. “Well, no one talk about the effect of the cold on our players in Christchurch last year suffering from hypothermia at half time. ‘We don’t go on reminding them about that, but I think you just deal with what you have got.
“The easiest way to deal with the situation is to make sure you hang on to the ball. If we have to ask the Hurricanes to make a lot of tackles then we have to hang on to the ball.”
Byrne said if they get the game right, it will be an advantage.
“If we get our game right then our home advantage is an advantage. If we don’t play our game, then home advantage is no longer an advantage. We really focused on that.”
He added the crowd in Suva would be a boost to them. “We are looking forward to be back in Suva and the boys really enjoyed it as they were able to see their families and friends.
“We are looking forward to the crowd, as this is Drua’s first game in Suva, which gives a bit of a boost too.
Meanwhile, there will be a new halves combination. It is expected that Simione Kuruvoli could start at halfback while Kemu Valentini mans the No.10 jumper.
The other two first-five eighths in the side includes Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Isikeli Rabitu.