A DROP in momentum by the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua due to heat stoppages in their round one contest against Moana Pasifika was raised by head coach Glen Jackson, following their 26-40 loss to the visitors on Saturday.
Jackson lamented the 20-minute breaks in each half, which were in place with the World Rugby Heat & Air Quality Guidelines, which stated that in extreme weather conditions, to ensure player safety, an objective assessment of the environment is required to assist in determining the safety of the prevailing conditions.
These guidelines were set in place at Churchill Park in Lautoka, where the match was held, due to high temperatures.
Acceptable levels under the Heat Stress Index (HSI) included having a temperature of less than and equal to 30 degrees Celsius and a humdity level of less than and equal to 60 per cent.
He compared the breaks to the manner of play in American football in the National Football League (NFL) where timeouts and stoppages were part of the matches.
“Look, we didn’t get the start that we were after. It seems like it’s becoming a bit of an NFL game here, with the length of time and stoppages and the team not getting us into momentum,” Jackson lamented.
Meanwhile, the Drua meet the New South Wales Waratahs this Friday at 8.35pm at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
