What a difference a week makes.
Last week I was still hopeful that the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua could make the top six play-offs, even though it was going to depend on matters out of their control.
Apart from needing to win their three remaining matches, they needed other results to go their way.
Well, all hope disappeared at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva when the Blues overpowered the Drua to win 34-5.
The Blues were always going to be hard to beat. They’re a ‘bogey’ team for the Drua having won every game they’ve played either in Fiji or Auckland.
They had won previously in Lautoka, and they were confident they had the game plan to win in Suva.
Unfortunately, the Drua produced their worst performance at home in their short history.
The full-time stats showed the Blues dominating possession and territory, they had three times as many visits into the opposition 22 and conceded less penalties.
All Black great Beauden Barrett controlled things behind a dominant pack and the Blues were able to apply relentless pressure inside the Drua 22.
Three of their five tries were scored by props forcing their way across the try line.
It wasn’t until the closing minutes that the Drua opened their scoring through a Selestino Ravutaumada try, his first for the year.
Prior to that it was a case of poor handling, loose carries and poor execution by the home team.
Now pride is on the line when they take on the Western Force at Churchill Park this afternoon.
If last week’s performance was the worst at home, the loss to the Force in Perth earlier in the year was the Drua’s worst effort on the road.
Drua head coach Glen Jackson told me that the loss in Perth in week 6 would provide the motivation to bounce back to winning form this afternoon.
The Drua conceded 52 points while only scoring 15. So, it’s payback time.
But they’ll come up against a Force squad that believes they can still make the play-offs with two more wins and other results going their way.
It’s a long shot but it’ll provide plenty of motivation for the visitors.
There are only 8 players backing up from the Force matchday squad that lost 31-13 in Lautoka on that wet and slippery day last season.
Only Ryan Coxon, Reed Prinsep and Bayley Kuenzle are starting. There are 10 backing up from the Drua squad that day with 8 of them starting.
So, both teams have moved on this year, and I like the look of today’s Drua squad that will attempt to remain unbeaten in Lautoka this year.
In fact, they’re going for 9 straight wins at Churchill Park.
While out of play-offs’ contention, it’s important they finish the season strongly.
They owe it to the fans and to some top players who I believe are heading abroad next year.
Hopefully they can send Tevita Ikanivere, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada and Caleb Muntz off with a final win at home, as well as Vuate Karawalevu watching on.
Time is also running out to impress Flying Fijians’ Coach Mick Byrne who’s piecing together his squad to take on the Wallabies in Newcastle on July 6.
As we know from recent years, the majority of players in the National squad are now current or former Drua players.
The Force players are also running out of time to further impress Wallabies’ Coach Joe Schmidt. Things were looking good after two wins to start the season, but it’s been mixed results since then and they look like missing the play-offs.
Can Simon Cron’s men end a run of three straight losses to the Brumbies, Blues and Chiefs? They conceded a total of 129 points and only scored 55.
They haven’t won since week 8, six weeks ago. But they did have a 17-all draw against the Hurricanes four weeks ago.
After today the Force have a home game against the Waratahs next week before a bye in the final round.
They’ve rested some players because of the tough travel schedule, and they have a growing injury list that includes the seasons’ leading try scorer Carlo Tizzano.
The Drua won’t mind playing another team above them on the ladder, after all they’ve already had home wins against the inform Chiefs and Reds, as well as the Waratahs.
I urge fans to get to Churchill Park this afternoon as it’s the final home game of the year. I know it’s been a tough season on and off the field, but if you want the Drua Nation to grow you have to support the Men and Women in good times and bad.
The Drua are three from six on Fiji soil this year. The Force are on an 11-game losing streak outside Australia. Both teams might be at the wrong end of the points ladder, but this is being treated a ‘must win’ for both. Enjoy.
