AFTER a disappointing season opener in Lautoka against Moana Pasifika last Saturday, Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson reflected on the loss and is now looking forward to doing better this week.
“We have a six-day turnaround this week. Last week was disappointing. We won three quarters of that game, but we failed big time in the first quarter. Havili did a great job with the wind. He kicked three 50-22’s behind us, which sort of put us on the back foot, and we were 21 – 0 after 15 minutes,’’ Jackson said.
“We are super excited to play the Waratahs. They are probably the one team everybody likes to play. There’s nothing better in a six-day turnaround for our men to muscle up in the Tahs half and we’ll see how that will go on Friday.’’
Jackson said all players were ready to fly out and take on the Waratahs.
“We’ve just got to front up in the forward pack. They’ve got an amazing backline. A world-class backline in terms of signings and Wallabies. So it’s got to be won in the forward pack, and our boys are fired up for it.”
The Drua have made six changes in the first line-up this week. Lanky Josefa Tamani and Motikai Murray will be starting at flankers. Seasoned halfback and co-captain, Frank Lomani, will combine with flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula in the playmaker slots. Taniela Rakuro replaces Manasa Mataele in the blind wing while Isikeli Rabitu starts at inside center.
“There are a couple of bumps and bruises…But we have gone for guys that are ready to play a team that has had a good win. There’s certainly history between the Drua and the Waratahs, so they are going to come out fighting.”
In terms of beating the Waratahs in Sydney, the Drua came so close last year, going down 29 – 24 in a nail-biting encounter. They also have yet to record a win in their away games since their introduction into the Super Rugby competition. Hopefully, they will get to scratch that off their list this season.
The game against the NSW Waratahs will kick off at 8:35pm at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.