‘WATCH DRUA’
EX-WALLABY QUADE COOPER WARNS OTHER AUSTRALIAN TEAMS TO BEWARE ‘PHYSICAL, SKILFUL’ DRUA SIDE
Former Wallabies pivot Quade Cooper yesterday warned other Australian teams to watch out for the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua in the National Rugby Championship. This was after the Senirusi Seruvakula-coached side thrashed Brisbane City 66–5 at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
“It’s very difficult for the boys to play against some very skilful players,” Cooper said.
“Other Australians should watch out for the Drua.
“The scoreline reflected how well they played and for us, we have a lot to work on.
“It’s a very physical, skilful side from the No. 1 to the No. 23.
“The players were always offloading and that’s the game that I love to watch and unfortunately was on the wrong side of it. “Fijians show how rugby should be played with a lot of fun and flair.”
The Fiji Airways Drua side yesterday put on another scintillating display of typical running rugby to annihilate the Brisbane City 66 – 5 at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
The side also walked the talk with ferocious defence which blocked all but one chance the visitors had.
It was a display of Fijian rugby at its best and the result showed why the side is currently leading the National Rugby Championship table after two rounds.
Winger Levani Kurumudu scored a hattrick and is fast becoming a player to watch in this competition.
The Drua’s combination of halfback Frank Lomani and Alivereti Veitokani at first five – eighth was the launch pad of the home side’s attacks and is becoming a deadly combination.
Brisbane City were no match for the Drua side and their forays through the forwards were met with stern defence.
Each player worked his shift and this saw the Drua side keep their line intact until the 77th minute.
The Drua side led 35-0 at the break and never looked back.
Hardworking number eight Eremasi Radrodro opened the scoring after eight minutes and with the conversion Veitokani, the floodgates opened up.
The Drua’s tries all came in typical running rugby fashion with a player always in hand to carry the ball forward. Tries to Kurumudu (13th minute), Lomani (23rd minute), centre Poasa Waqanibau (2th minute) and Kurumudu on the touch of halftime gave the Drua side the 35-0 lead.
SECOND HALF
The second spell was almost a carbon copy of the first spell with Fiji pilfering off the Brisbane City breakdowns and setting up their chain of passes to the opposition try line.
Lomani opened the scoring in the 57th minute followed by second five eight Cyrul Reece (60th minute), Kurumudu (65th minute), and skipper Mosese Voka to finish off a successful match.
Brisbane City finally crossed over in the 77th minute with winger Jayden Ngamanu after a quick flick by Quade Cooper who missed the conversion from way out.
COMMENTS:
Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula said,
“There is a lot of learning for us. Every week we learn from all the game we play. Playing this level and playing Super Rugby players where as our boys play in the Skipper Cup Premiership and Farebrother. Before we got on the bus we made it sure that we had a good start and open up the game. ”
City captain Adam Korczyk said,
“It was hard to stop those support plays that’s how Fiji got through us. The Drua played quick footy and a physical team in the attack and it is quite difficult as we saw tonight.”