“Don’t confuse results with performance.”
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans stated this in response to public conversations about the team’s effort in the current Super Rugby Pacific season.
“My point is this, don’t confuse results with performance. Some years, you just don’t close the close ones and then other years in a tight competition, you close them all and the difference is tiny,” Evans stressed.
He questioned the criticism imposed upon the team’s performance however he added he understood where it may have sprung from.
“You’re seriously telling me because they are at the bottom of the league, they’re the worst team; they’re not because that’s a snapshot and that’s all you get,” he remarked.
“You get a snapshot in time and I understand that, all right? I understand it from the fans point of view, I understand it to a degree from the media’s point of view.”
He made those comments when referring to the Penrith Panthers in the NRL as an example.
Meanwhile, he remained steadfast in his assessment of the team.
“I think to start saying we’re not playing well is not accurate, I think we played pretty well in quite a few games,” he said.
“Do I think we’re playing worse than last year? No I don’t actually. I think the competition’s got better.”
He added the disbandment of the Melbourne Rebels allowed for its players enter other Australian Super Rugby clubs and help intensify the level of competition.
“I think one of the things you’ve got to recognise is that the collapse of the (Melbourne) Rebels has dumped 25 quality players onto the Australian market and every single Australian team’s improved quite significantly,” he said.
The Drua meet the Reds tomorrow afternoon.
