FRESH battle scars for certain players in the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua have meant the team facing the Crusaders this Friday will look slightly different.
The Drua will be without the services of co-captain Frank Lomani, and wingers Ponipate Loganimasi and Epeli Momo this week following injuries sustained in the clash against the Blues last week at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand in round seven of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition.
This was confirmed by head coach Glen Jackson in a virtual press conference yesterday.
“(Ponipate) Loganimasi, unfortunately, broke his arm so he’s definitely out for the rest of the year,” Jackson revealed from Auckland.
“(Epeli) Momo’s done a knee cartilage so he’ll be out for the rest of the year and Frank’s (Lomani) probably out for two to three weeks.”
While Loganimasi and Momo’s injuries mean no action for a long period of time, Jackson expressed his hopes of having Lomani back before their round 10 match against the Brumbies in Canberra, Australia on April 17.
“Best case scenario, hoping that obviously we can get him (Lomani) back probably for the Brumbies game.”
Meanwhile, he also confirmed scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli was injured in an earlier match and is still on rehab.
Heading into Friday’s game also means facing the competition’s defending champions on their home turf, and Jackson is aware of how formidable their opponents will be.
“Just obviously a quality outfit,” Jackson said, referring to the Crusaders.
“Won it more than anyone else and they are a proud, proud team.”
The Crusaders and the Drua have a turbulent record that favours the NZ team; in their past five meetings, the Crusaders have won three of them.
The teams clash this Friday at 6.05pm at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand.
