Start well, finish strong key for home team
CHURCHILL Park is still ‘Home Sweet Home’ for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and they’re looking to remain unbeaten at the venue this season when they host the Western Force in Lautoka today.
It’s another big double header with the men kicking off at 1pm and the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women playing the Force from 3.30pm
Last week had a familiar look about it. The Drua were slow starters and were down 10-0 before they put on 26 unanswered points thanks to a hat-trick from Iosefo Masi and a try to Frank Lomani.
They scored four tries to one to lead 26-10 at the break, but then allowed the Waratahs to score four tries to one in the second spell. The Tahs won the second half 26-10 and at 36-all it went to Golden Point.
Just last week head coach Mick Byrne told me that one of the ‘work ons’ is staying in control and putting the opposition away when the Drua has a commanding lead.
In a 15-minute period in the second half the Drua gave away 7 penalties and most of them were avoidable. In other words, players made some poor decisions. The Tahs scored three tries in that period, and it was ‘game on’ again.
Fortunately for the Drua the Waratahs failed to nail their drop goal opportunity in sudden death extra time before the ‘Ice Man’ Kemu Valetini sealed the deal at the other end. I loved the celebrations around the ground.
So once again in Lautoka the Drua had to dig deep to get the job done and they came up with their first ever win over the Waratahs. Now they get to do it all again today as they look for their first win over the Western Force.
The men from Western Australia are coming off their best performance so far, a 9-point win over the Reds, their first taste of victory this season. But after losing their past 10 matches away from Perth, this is shaping up to be a huge challenge for them.
They say the heat in the middle of the day in Lautoka won’t be an issue for them as they train and play in hot temperatures at home. But as other visiting teams have found out, it’s not just the heat that affects them. It’s also the humidity as well as the noise in the cauldronlike atmosphere.
Speaking after last week’s breakthrough win, Force head coach Simon Cron said they can’t wait to play Super Rugby Pacific in Fiji for the first time, and he acknowledged that the Drua is playing well at home.
After leaking 31 points last week, Cron says the Force have to be better than that. If they can maintain their composure while defending there’ll be more upside on the way.
No doubt the Force have done their homework on the Drua’s strike weapons. It’ll be interesting to see if they can shut down last week’s Player of the Match Iosefo Masi who scored his second hat-trick in Drua colours.
There are seven changes in the match day 23 this week including three in the run-on side. Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata and Epeli Momo get a start. In the absence of Meli Derenalagi, Tevita Ikanivere will lead the side.
It’s great to see youngster Motikiai Murray back on the bench for the first time since last year’s quarterfinal and Waqa Nalaga is set to make his debut. He carries on a proud family tradition as both his father Kavekini and brother Napolioni were Flying Fijians.
The Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women suffered a setback last week, losing by 41 points to the Waratahs. It was obvious that the Drua are a long way behind the Tahs’ fitness levels.
This week they face another unbeaten team, the Force. It’s another crunch match for both teams as the top two on the ladder after the regular season host a semi-final. The Drua can’t afford to concede 10 tries like last week.
Finally, all the best to Drua general manager rugby Nico Andrade who’s heading home to Brisbane to be with his family. His contribution to the Drua in the NRC and Super Rugby Pacific has been immense. Vinaka vakalevu Nico, and bula to his interim replacement Baden Stephenson, the former Melbourne Rebels boss who starts on April 8.