Drua building core squad

BYRNE OUTLINES WEEKLY CHANGES TO TEAM

SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne says it will take at least one full season of Super Rugby Pacific to have a core squad for matches throughout the year.

Yesterday, Byrne made nine changes to his run-on side to face the Hurricanes in a round 12 match at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand this Sunday.

There have been majority of changes to the starting line-ups for the Drua throughout this season and Byrne said this was because of a number of reasons.

“Some changes are forced on us and there are a couple of other changes where players have played a lot of minutes and there are players we want to have a look at as well,” Byrne said.

“I’m thinking it’s our first year and people are saying we’re making changes.”

He said there were different players with different abilities and needs and all players were being tried and given a chance to prove themselves.

“This year some players are playing their first game of Super

Rugby and we need to see where they are and how they perform.

“We also need to give opportunity to all players to say ‘this is what I have to offer in Super Rugby’ and some players are playing for their careers and we have got to give them their opportunity.”

The former Australian rules footballer said by next season, he should be able to have a squad that will be able to play week in week out.

“Probably when we get into our second season, when we will be like other Super Rugby teams where we can set a core squad. We have given everyone an opportunity to play, we have been able to make some assessments of players.”

The Fijian Drua faces the Hurricanes at 3.35pm.