Day of ‘firsts’ for Fijian Drua
WHERE do I start this week? The Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match in Lautoka last week-end had so much to offer.
If you’re a Swire Shipping Fijian Drua fan and you didn’t gain a great deal of satisfaction out of the 25-24 win over the Crusaders you are definitely hard to please.
It was a day of ‘firsts’. The first time the Drua had won on home soil. The first time they’d beaten New Zealand opposition. The first time they’d knocked over a defending champion. The first of six games on Fiji soil this regular season.
It was also the first time most of the match day squad had experienced anything like it. With the exception of a few of the ex 7s stars who have won Olympic Gold or World Series titles, it was something very special for the rest of the boys.
Personally, I was honoured to be able to call the action. I’ve been commentating Rugby for over two decades including more than 200 test matches and over 20 years of Super Rugby, and last Saturday is now one of my many highlights.
It’s been said repeatedly that Fiji Rugby fans are the best in the world and Lautoka proved it yet again. Head Coach Mick Byrne calls the fan base the Drua’s 16th player. How true!
The noise generated by the fans and the atmosphere has to be seen to be believed. It’s going to be a hard to follow but I can’t wait to see the turn out for the clash against the Rebels in Suva on April 1.
Picking the Hoover Player of the Match is no easy task nowadays. Jo Tamani got the nod last week after producing another top effort, but Iosefo Masi, Tevita Ikanivere, Frank Lomani and Eroni Sau were definitely considered. Eroni scored a try on Super Rugby Pacific debut and another first timer Kemu Valetini stepped up to the kicking tee at the end to win it for the Drua. It’s the second time in three weeks that the Drua have had to come back and snatch the win in the dying minutes.
The Crusaders weren’t at full strength, opting to rest some All Blacks as part of New Zealand Rugby’s RWC player rotation policy. Coach Scott Roberston says other teams will not make the same mistake going forward.
The Highlanders and Chiefs were given huge frights in Fiji last year and the defending champs have suffered a loss this year. The good news for the Drua is the fact that they still have a lot of improvement in them.
The line-out and scrum is still a ‘work on’, and the driving maul defence needs to improve. Coach Byrne says some players simply missed their roles when the Crusaders’ scored 3 of their four tries from driving mauls.
Byrne says it’s not an Achilles heel for the Drua and we should see a different set up on Sunday when they play the Reds in Brisbane. The players at fault put their hand up during the review and vowed to be better.
Great to see Meli Derenalagi back in the starting side. He takes over the captaincy from Tevita Ikanivere who has done a great job leading the side. But I’m expecting even more from Tex this week as he can concentrate fully on his job. Samu Tawake and Te Cirikidaveta also get a start against the Reds while the backline remains intact. There’s plenty of firepower on the bench and it’ll be needed on a hot Sunday arvo in Brisbane.
The Reds are back at Suncorp for the first time this year and are 1 from 3 to start the campaign. The Drua have won 2 from 3 and they know the Stadium well after playing there a couple of times last year.
Finals footy in 2023 is the goal for Mick Byrne and his assistant Coaches. Winning all your home games might be enough to reach the Top 8 but a few wins on the road will help big time.
So let’s hope it’s another day of ‘firsts’ for the Drua on Sunday. Their first win in Brisbane and the first time they go back-to-back in Super Rugby Pacific.