Coach Byrne: What We Need To Do Right

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne has a few days to sort out a strategy to counter the Waratahs head-on before Saturday’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

Statistically, the Waratahs are much stronger in defence. According to the Super Rugby stats, in the Tackle Won category, Waratahs have recorded an impressive 88.5 per cent while the Drua has 77.5 per cent.

So, after round four of competition, the Waratahs have conceded 14 tries while the Drua has 18 tries scored against them.

“We have been working hard on our defensive systems,” Byrne said told SUNsports.

“You know, we’re probably looking at, what we’re doing with the ball as well.

“We can ask lots of questions of them. We need to tighten up a little bit of our edge defence and we worked hard at that today (Tuesday).

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s Selestino Ravutaumada and Iosefo Masi tackle a Crusaders player at Churchill Park, Lautoka, on March 9, 2024. Photo: Leon Lord

The wily coach added that coming back from any sort of mauls and offline breaks they need to fill the field.

“We must get our system right and a reliant system is where we rely on individuals. Just making good decisions under pressure and a couple of times last weekend, we didn’t get that right.”

Byrne said there is no injury concern.

The match kicks-off at 1.05pm.

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