Drua need to work hard
Now preparing to take on the Wellington Hurricanes at the Cake Tin on Sunday, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua need to polish up and work twice as hard in two areas, line-outs and general kicks.
They must take note that after 11 rounds of their debut Super Rugby Pacific have lost 39 or 103 line-outs making for a 40.1 per cent which is the lowest in the competition even behind fellow newcomers Moana Pasifika.
There needs to be a improvement and whether it’s the calls or just lack of cohesion at crucial set piece is hurting the Drua.
Mesulame Dolokoto is a Flying Fijian and has played with world class locks over the years, he knows his game better than anyone but a little more cohesion would serve the Drua better going to New Zealand’s capital.
In the early round of the competition, the Drua were regarded more as a second half team that struggled to put points in the first 20 minutes, in fact up until round 6, the maximum Drua had put was just three points in the first 20 minutes.
The side went to work and concentrated on the first 20 minutes, against the Highlanders, they scored three tries in 22 minutes and surprised themselves more than anyone else but this had an effect in the later stages of their performance which allowed the visitors to steal the win at the death.
This was clear as their kicks out of
their own 22 were poorly executed and for the Drua head coach being a renowned kicker himself, I expected better kicking from all the backline especially the back three.
They would have put the match to bed if not for three poor kicks out of the Drua half which gave the Highlanders territory and possession to claw back into the match.
Drua assistant coach and former referee Glen Jackson may want to speak to the match officials for the policing of key areas which hurt teams.
The mauls, rucks and offside have hurt the Drua while on replays it shows otherwise.
Against the Highlanders, there were five occasions that the Drua were penalised and the Highlanders scored this could have been checked by the TMO and the ref.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Drua back three will have a lot of work as the Hurricanes are known for their kicking game.
The Ardie Savea Savea captainedside has kicked possession away 185 times to Drua’s 135.
They have also made more carries (1139 to 1107), metres (8107 to 7724) and clean-breaks (59 to 45) to the Drua meaning a good hit out for the newcomers await them as they play their first match on New Zealand soil.
The Drua however have beaten more defenders and made more offloads.
Savea has paid tribute to the excitement brought to the competition by the Drua and looks forward to meeting the players when they lock horns on Sunday.