The Australia National Rugby Championship (NRC) is a new ball game altogether, says Fiji Airways Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula.

Looking forward to their first home game against NSW Country Eagles at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka on Saturday, he admitted that they’re still learning.

He said they’re still trying to understand the rules of the NRC competition compared to the Skipper Cup.

“In the first game our setback was the understanding of the rules adopted in the NRC competition,” Seruvakula said.

“It’s different from the Skipper Cup. The rules like in the scrum it is up to the halfback to put the ball in but in NRC the referee taps the halfback to do it.”

Fiji Airways Drua team during training at the Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA

The no-nonsense coach said playing in the NRC is like going up another tempo.

“It’s how you play in the NRC and to keep to the tempo of the game. In Fiji if you kick into the opposition 22 and they kick it back but now if they kick it to us we run it back. So we keep the ball alive and to score it at the other end.

“When they get a penalty they kick it out and they maul. There is a lot of maul in the game with the forwards because they want to penalise the opposition and kick it out again.

“At the same time they are moving forward. It is different in Fiji. If you watch the Skipper Cup and the Farebrother there are not more than six phases. It is only five phases and they kick.”

Playing against Wallabies and Super Rugby players, Seruvakula says, is a big boost to the local players.

“It is a big step for them. They watch those guys every week playing in the Super Rugby and now they’re playing against them. This has boosted their confidence as they go in into this game.”

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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