THE Swire Shipping Fijian Drua are bringing in reinforcements today with a special Fiji Airways flight from Nadi to Dunedin.
Our fans travelling on the two special flights are expected to provide reinforcement from the stands as the Drua battle to stay in the top eight.
The Drua fans have played an instrumental part in the club’s journey and their presence today will make a difference.
The Highlanders are known to have one of the best crowds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific which means competition will not only be on the field of play but off it as well.
Highlanders winger and Nakoronawa, Nakasakeka in Kadavu lad Jona Nareki shared his thoughts on the influence supporters had on the Fijian Drua performance, especially at home.
“I think it helps them massively especially with their home game that they’ve had,” said Nareki, who returns to the Highlanders’ line-up after being sidelined by injury in April.
“I reckon it helps them a lot, so yeah, definitely, they know that the crowd helps them which is quite smart from them to bring a charter flight over.”
The hosts saw one of their biggest attendance this season during culture round against the Crusaders with 18,537 fans turning up for the game.
A similar showing at the ‘Zoo’ is expected with this being their last regular home game of the season.
“Our zoo will drown their crowd,” Nareki said cheekily .
The Fiji Airways charter flight departed this morning, and the return flight is expected to touch down in Nadi at 10.45 tonight.
Meanwhile, this will be the third Super Rugby Pacific match between the Highlanders and Fijian Drua; the Highlanders have won each of the previous two meetings, conceding exactly 24 points on the day in each of those two games.
