1
Waratahs focused on ‘doing a job’ in Fiji in bid to get season back on track
By AAP
Rain, hail or shine, the NSW Waratahs plan on "doing a job" on the Fijian Drua in a desperate bid to reignite their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes.
The Waratahs will take on the Drua in front of almost 15,000 rabid fans at a sold-out Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday knowing their season likely hinges on victory.
Both sides are one from four this campaign after both recording upset wins over the defending champion Crusaders.
Back-rower Langi Gleeson, one of four NSW players with Fijian heritage, has warned teammates they'll be entering a cauldron.
"It's almost like it's a fortress," Gleeson said before Friday's captain's run.
"It's always tough to verse the Drua, especially in their hometown. Their crowd certainly gets behind them and it's hard to shut them down.
"Especially with the heat and humidity, with the crowd as well, I'm sure we'll remember this game for the rest of our careers.
"But we'll try and do a job on them this Saturday."
The Fiji weather office forecast heavy rain and issued flood warnings this week, but more of a concern for the Waratahs will be Drua coach - and former Wallabies assistant - Mick Byrne's claim that his players are nearing peak fitness already this season.
Despite their 1-3 record, the Drua outscored the Blues - last-start winners over the Waratahs - in the second half, and also Moana Pasifika, as well as keeping the Crusaders to zero after the interval.
"My most physical games have been against the Drua," Gleeson said.
"A lot of sore bodies for like two weeks after playing the Drua so it's just about getting in those contacts and wrapping the ball."
Unbeaten in four meetings with the Drua, the Tahs are coming off consecutive two-point home defeats to the Highlanders and Blues.
But the narrow losses have buoyed Darren Coleman's troops rather than deflated them.
"It gives us a lot of confidence to match those teams, as opposed to last year; we wouldn't even get close to them," Gleeson said.
"We're improving every week and there's a lot to learn from that game against the Blues."
In a double-header treat for fans, the Waratahs women also will face the defending champion Fijian Drua in a rematch of last year's semi-final.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Stuart Lancaster 'wants out' of Racing 92 and eyeing Euro giants job
3
Henry Arundell lined up for early England homecoming
4
Government provides bleak assessment on the state of the Premiership
5
Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
Go to comments