The Fiji Airways Fijian Drua team has defied all odds to make the National Rugby Championship (NRC) grand final for the first time at Churchill Park, Lautoka, this Saturday.

Playing in their second year in the NRC the side, which consists of local-based players, has proved that it has what it takes to become the best.

That is if players are nurtured in the right environment and given the opportunity to play against Super Rugby players week in and week out.

It has been a big progress by the Fijian Drua compared with what they achieved last year, where they reached the semi-final and lost to eventual winners Queensland Country.

Last year the Fijian Drua lost four matches to finish fourth on the points table and played an away semi-final.

Also, indiscipline reared its ugly head in most of their games along with a biting incident, which resulted in two players copping lengthy suspensions.

But this year, it was totally different.

The Fijian Drua lost only one match to top the NRC points table and were rewarded with a home semi-final last Saturday.

They were disciplined throughout and yellow cards were kept to a minimum.

Their progress is the result of proper planning and management by the team officials led by head coach Senirusi Seruvakula and closely monitored by the Fiji Rugby Union along with Fiji Airways Flying Fijians head coach John McKee.

The onus is now on the Mosese Voka- captained side to create history on Saturday by being the first team outside Australia to win the NRC.

They’ve only to stick with the game pattern drawn up by Seruvakula and they are going to be unstoppable.

Already, the no-nonsense coach has highlighted that they are not there as yet in terms of adapting to their pattern of play, but once they do no one in the NRC is going to touch them.

Let’s all hope that everything will fall into place in this one most important match.

With the Fijian Drua now the pride of our nation, the call is made out for fans to come out in big numbers to cheer them on in the final.

The support of the fans is what made the difference when they fought back from an 18-7 deficit to beat Canberra Vikings 35-28.

So, let’s be there at Churchill Park, Lautoka, this Saturday to support our Fijian Drua because this is our real chance of winning the NRC title for the first time.

Leone Cabenatabua

Feedback:  leonec@fijisun.com.fj