Editorial: No better time tosupport the Drua, then now

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua stands a good chance of making the top six spot of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific points table. By doing that means the Drua reaching their third quarterfinal of the competition.

After the Drua’s 24-14 win over the Highlanders at a packed Govind Park, Ba, last Saturday, means the Glen Jackson-coached side is on track.

However, everything now rests on the outcome of their final three matches in the competition. The Drua has no other option but to win these matches.

This weekend, the Drua takes a break (or bye) from the competition. This is critical for the players and coaches to recover, reset before going in for the kill.

The final phase of their journey starts with the NSW Waratahs on Saturday, May 16, at the National Stadium in Suva.

The Waratahs have been struggling lately as they try to recover the form they had at the start of the competition.

For the Drua, this is an opportunity to go for a bonus point win, which comes handy when determining who makes the final top six.

If there is a time, the Drua needs their fans to boost their campaign, then it has to be on Saturday, May 16, in Suva.

For us, the Drua is more than a franchise club, it is the pride of our nation and a source of hope to our local-based players and youngsters, who have now made their mark in the rugby world.

These are players like Kalaveti Ravouvou, Vinaya Habosi, Simione Kuruvoli, Iosefo Masi, Elia Canakaivata, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Mesake Vocevoce, Joji Nasova, Iosefo Namoce, Maika Tuitubou, Isikeli Rabitu, Philip Baselala and the list goes on.

Not only that, the Drua provides veteran players like former French international Virimi Vakatawa, former Wallabies halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa along with co-captains Temo Mayanavanua and Frank Lomani, the opportunity to return home and share their experience and mentor our local-based players.

After the NSW Waratahs, the last assignments are away matches against Western Force and Queensland Reds.

These two Australian-based clubs are currently on fire and would be a massive challenge for the Drua to beat them.

Nothing is impossible for the Drua, who last month ended their three-year winless away game jinx against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

The Drua’s 33-28 win was dubbed as the biggest upset in Super Rugby.

Nothing is impossible for the Drua- if they could do it against Brumbies, then what is stopping them of beating the Force in Perth and then the Reds in Brisbane.

Toso Drua Toso.