Patience and discipline are two core principles Isoa Nasilasila affirms as vital stepping stones towards the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s collective success for the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition this season.
The vice-captain shared this when asked by the media at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand last Saturday following their 15-40 defeat by the Blues.
“We’re still building towards our peak and I definitely know that we’re close,” Nasilasila said when asked if the team was still “searching for its best stuff.”
“We’re that close to getting it, so it’s just a matter of staying disciplined and having patience.”
The Drua will work on refining those areas before they meet the defending champions, the Crusaders, this week.
Placed head-to-head, the Crusaders have a 3-2 win record over the Drua and in their previous meeting last season, the Drua lost 14-31.
The Drua’s away game jinx continued following last Saturday’s clash and the team will face a tough Crusaders team adamant to win on their home turf.
And last week in Auckland, the team’s chances of winning an away game were short-lived when they had a three point lead over the Blues in the early stages of the second half at 15-14, however the hosts bounced back to add 26 more points.
Reflecting on the second 40 minutes, head coach Glen Jackson said a tough defence and an onset of fatigue may have driven the side to work their way back up as the Blues’ side of the scoresheet expanded.
“We got a penalty early doors, probably if we looked back, maybe it was a chance to keep the foot on the throat a little bit and see if we can get further ahead,” Jackson reflected.
“I know that took us in the lead, which was good but then to be able to hold the Blues out and as we said at half-time, we knew it was coming.”
The Drua meet the Crusaders at 6.05pm this Friday at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.
