WHILE the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua may have lost 15-40 to the Blues last Saturday, head coach Glen Jackson was outspoken on his side not being able to perform their traditional challenge prior to kick-off.
Jackson lamented the absence of the performance and described it as a “little bit of a grumble” when asked by journalists after the match.
“Yes, well, we got told last night (Friday night) which was obviously a bit of a grumble I think, for such an occasion,” Jackson pointed out.
The occasion in question was the tribute accorded to the late Fijian winger Joeli Vidiri, who played for the Blues in 1996-2000 and in whose memory and honour a trophy named after him was contested for and won by the Blues.
“I think Super Rugby Pacific is about incorporating what the Pacific brings and obviously we haven’t been able to do it,” he said.
“I’ve got a few grumbles with how heat protocols are going on in Fiji; we haven’t been able to get our game going, we’re not allowed to do ‘Na i-Bole’ there either because it’s too hot.”
He added the team was unable to perform it last week against the Reds at Churchill Park, however, according to him, the temperature on game day then had been 28 degrees Celsius.
As for the Blues match, the team was unable to perform it on the field, which meant it was performed in their change room and ultimately filmed for posterity and uploaded to their official social media platforms on Meta (formerly Facebook) and Instagram.
In the video, Frank Lomani led the side in their performance, a battle chant that has not been broadcasted on live television since their round one clash in Lautoka against Moana Pasifika last month.
In that match, heat stoppage protocols in line with World Rugby regulations had prompted the removal.
At the Four R Stadium, Govind Park in Ba in their clash against the Brumbies, the Drua did not perform it either.
The team heads to Christchurch this week to face the Crusaders at 6.05pm on Friday.
