IT wasn’t the result the Fijian Drua was hoping for in Lautoka last Saturday, and it could turn out to be a very costly glitch in their play-off hopes down the track, but there were some positives to take out of the 14-point loss to Moana Pasifika.
As head coach Glen Jackson mentioned, the Drua won three quarters of the match, but unfortunately it was all Moana in the opening 20 minutes at Churchill Park. With the wind behind them, Moana kicked brilliantly to dominate territory, and they came up with four converted tries in the first 40.
One of the ‘positives’ for the home team was Temo Mayanavanua’s first up effort in Drua colours. He showed good leadership and communicated well with the referee. A try on debut helped him earn the Drua Player of the Match award.
The four tries, two either side of half time got the Drua to within seven points in the second half after being down 21-0 at one stage. But you can’t give any team that sort of start and expect to win.
Veremi Vakatawa had some nice touches as did Manasa Mataele … but overall, it wasn’t the Drua’s best 23-man effort. There were lineout issues and poor discipline resulting in 9 penalties and a yellow card. 11 handling errors frustrated them even more.
When a team doesn’t live up to expectations it’s important how the players respond. They need to take ownership and bounce back immediately. Fortunately, the Drua doesn’t have to wait too long as it’s only a six-day turnaround.
It’s the first road trip and waiting for them in Sydney tonight is an improved Waratahs. It’s been almost four years to the day when the Drua played the Tahs in Western Sydney during Covid, in what was their first ever Super Rugby Pacific appearance.
The Tahs prevailed 40-10 on that occasion and went on to win their next three against the Drua, all on Aussie soil. The winning margins were 24, 29 and 14 points.
But things changed two years ago when the Drua had the first of two victories over the men from New South Wales. The Drua won an exciting battle in Lautoka by 39 to 36.
Then last season the Waratahs managed to come from behind to clinch a five-point victory in Sydney, before the Drua pulled off a 14-point win in the return match in Lautoka.
At home against the Tahs, the Drua average 33 points a game, but that figure drops to just 16 in Australia. So, it’s obvious that the Drua need to start well and go the full 80 unlike last year in Sydney when they conceded a late try to deny them a rare win at Allianz Stadium.
They certainly can’t afford another slow start tonight as the Waratahs proved in last week’s domination of the Reds that they’ve improved. They have some world class Backs and the Forwards muscled up last week.
While the Drua are 15 wins from 23 games in Fiji, they haven’t won away from home since February 2023, almost 3 years to the day. They’ve lost 23 straight since downing Moana Pacific in New Zealand.
Hopefully that will all change tonight in Sydney, but Moana didn’t do the Drua any favours last week. Tah’s coach Dan McKellar is very experienced, and he would have seen how Tana Umaga’s men came up with a game plan to unsettle the Drua early in the match and go on to outscore the home team by six tries to four.
Coach Jackson wasn’t happy with the water breaks at the 20-minute mark in each half last week because the Drua lost momentum, but the tournament’s ‘heat stress’ policy will continue to be enforced. Don’t be surprised to see Drua home games scheduled later in future seasons.
There are six changes in tonight’s starting line-up including two in the back row with Joseva Tamani and Motikiai Murray getting their chance to start ahead of Mesake Vocevoce and Kitione Salawa who move to the bench.
It’s great to see Frank Lomani and Isaiah Armstrobng-Ravula back together in the halves, Taniela Rakuro is on the left wing for Manasa Mataele who also drops to the bench. Rakuro, Haereiti Hetet and Isikeli Rabitu all signed a contract extension this week.
Coach Jackson is full of praise for Rabitu who starts in the centres tonight.
He predicts the former Suva Grammar Student and Fiji Under 20s star is one of the most talented young Backs he’s seen in his time in Fiji.
Tonight’s clash kicks off at 8.30PM Fiji time and the Drua has a chance to go ‘back to back’ for the first time against the Tahs after they won last year’s encounter in Lautoka.
The past four games between the two sides have been decided by 14 points or less.
Two of them by five points or less. The Drua are desperate to be on the right side of the scoreline to make up for last week’s loss at home.
Toso Drua toso.
