FLAIR, energy, hype with high levels of consistency are the keys needed to unlock the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s potential of yielding even more favourable results.
These are the sentiments of former New Zealand All Blacks and Highlanders number 10, Lima Sopoaga.
Speaking to Times Sport in Auckland, New Zealand recently, Sopoaga mentioned they were a great team to watch and ironed out what they could step up in as the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition starts on Friday.
“They’re a wonderful team to watch, they bring that flair, that energy, that hype but I think they just need to mix that with some really good consistency and some good results,” Sopoaga told Times Sport.
“Because (when you) get good results, you get more fans coming back, and you get people wanting to be a part of something special.”
Sopoaga expressed his hopes of seeing the Drua attain its desired results with the consistency in mind to power through the tough opposition imposed by the other teams in the competition.
“So, I hope that this year they can get more consistent around some of their results and they definitely have the talent, they just need to be able to channel it and execute when the pressure most comes on.”
For Sopoaga, the depth and added dimension of entertainment and flair they bring along with Pacific counterparts Moana Pasifika is a highlight for him in how they set themselves apart from the rest of the competition.
“Yes, it’s definitely different. Obviously, it’s hard, because they’re new teams, so they’re not as well established, like results wise, but in terms of what they bring, like for the fans, for entertainment, they bring something different; that’s a different flavour.”
Sopoaga played for the All Blacks between 2015 and 2017, appearing in 18 matches of which 16 were Test fixtures and scored 61 points derived from 55 during Tests and six in other matches.
Meanwhile, the Fijian Drua faces Moana Pasifika at Churchill Park in Lautoka this Saturday at 3.30pm.
