SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson expects a fired-up ACT Brumbies side when the two teams meet in their Round 10 Super Rugby Pacific clash at GIO Stadium in Canberra tomorrow night.
Jackson said his side was bracing for “some return fire” from the Brumbies, following the Drua’s strong performance in their previous meeting earlier this season.
“We’ve got an important game ahead.
“We know where we sit as a squad and as a team. We did well on the weekend to keep our hopes alive. I told the players we had seven games left win five and we make the playoffs and we’ve gone one for one so far.
“So now it’s on to a very, very tough match in Canberra, especially after probably our best game this season came against them. They’ll be wanting to respond,” Jackson said.
The Drua head into the match with renewed confidence after a narrow win over the Western Force, with Jackson highlighting the side’s improved defensive effort as a key factor.
“Greg Fleming, our defence coach, has done a beautiful job this year. But we’ve got to put a full 80-minute performance together. When that happens, it’s exciting.
“Our best performance has probably been against the Brumbies a few weeks ago, so it’s a good opportunity to go over there and try to do it away from home.”
Jackson acknowledged the challenge of facing one of the competition’s top teams on their home turf, noting the Brumbies’ evolution under coach Stephen Larkham.
“They’re a great team second or third on the table and they’ve beaten every New Zealand team so far, so they’re a quality outfit.
“This game will be massive around our maul because we know that’s one of their strengths. But they’re not just the Brumbies of old anymore.
“Under Steve Larkham, they play a lot more rugby. They’re dangerous with ball in hand and have a very fast back three.
“So, we’ve got to make sure we kick well and have a strong chase line. Izzy and Isaac have been kicking well for us, and we’re looking forward to Kemu coming off the bench and adding impact.”
Despite their strong performances at home, the Drua are still chasing their first overseas win something Jackson says remains a major focus.
“We more than anyone want to make Fiji proud by winning away.
“We love playing in front of our home fans, but we’ve got to take that same energy and positivity on the road.
“We’ve said it for a while we play well for 60 minutes, but away from home, that’s not enough. We need to be accurate and focused for the full 80.
“Every moment in the game is important. It’s about concentration and execution right through.”
The Drua will be aiming to deliver that complete performance as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive against one of the competition heavyweights.
