More work needed Teams improve standings
DESPITE the Ben Gollings’ serious approach to try and claim the Sydney title, the side lifted its performance from a dismal eighth spot in Hamilton New Zealand to collect a bronze medal on Sunday.
The men’s and the women’s side improved too on the overall points standings.
The men’s side is in fifth place in the overall points table with 67 while the Fijiana jumped two spots from their eighth spot to record 36 points.
Gollings said players’ consistency is an area he was looking at.
He said the team had set a high standard and now people would see that as they would come back to fight.
“Gotta keep developing that area, some of the players have been a big slog with little break and they’re having to dig deep on their results,” he said.
“You got to understand it from a player’s level, we’ve not had a lot of time off and therefore not a lot of time to break, rest and that really top up fitness again.
“So there are players who will need to top up, they’ll take accountability for part of the self-leadership that they’ve got to create being involved in this team in this environment.
“As well as from our standpoint, walking, pushing and we do set a high standard and now people will see that and will come back to fight.”
SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne says they will need to work on a few areas before their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season kicks off against Moana Pasifika on February 28.
The match will be held at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand in what will be a Pacific battle between the two newbies in the competition.
The Drua had a Super Rugbh Pacific hit out against the Melbourne
Rebels at Prince Charles on Saturday with the hosts winning 24-0.
While pleased with his players carries in that match, Byrne was able to pick a few areas that were wanting against a strong Moana side.
“We need to look at our contact area because Moana Pasifika is one of the more stronger ball carrying defensive ruck teams so we’ll look to take a look at that,” Byrne said.
“I thought we were a bit loose around some of our ball carries especially early on in contact.
“We know Moana will really come hard at us so it really should be a great atmosphere at Mount Smart there in south Auckland.”
He said assessing from the Rebels match, it was still much work in progress following their first real contact game in a while.
“I think the conditions turned on at the start, it was pretty wet and slippery. It was pleasing that we stuck to our systems and we worked through the process.
“I know they all sound a bit of a cliche but for this team to be able to come in our first game and stick to our systems was really pleasing.
“We held onto the ball a little bit better in those slippery conditions wold have been fine but it was slippery for them as well.
“First games of the year are always sort of slippery and rusty.
“Just the way we carried the ball. I though it was bit too high, it’s always the same in the first game. It takes a while to get it in your habits.
“We were carrying a bit high allowing them to get beneath us. I think our boys did that a bit better in the second half and got over the game line a bit better.”