‘Learn From Fijiana Drua’
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua must keep our identity by playing running rugby and making those offloads during the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Tuesday 08 March 2022 | 10:49
Fijiana Drua players do through their training drill with head Senirusi Seruvakula in Brisbane, Australia, on March 3, 2022. Photo: Fijiana Drua
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua must keep our identity by playing running rugby and making those offloads during the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
This was the view of Nadroga Rugby’s technical advisor Franck Boivert.
He told SUNsports yesterday that the Fijiana Drua (women’s side) showed what Fijian rugby was all about in their 66-5 demolishing of the Melbourne Rebels in their Super W opener.
“I believe we should always keep to the Fijian style of rugby,” Boivert said.
“The Fijiana Drua side played an awesome game and it was so refreshing. The women played with their instincts and they were terrific. They played like a true Fijian rugby team.”
Boivert warned that we should not copy and paste what is done by overseas teams.
“It is boring and stereotyped. The Fijiana Drua really kept their identity and that is the most important thing. It is very important to play your own style.”
Boivert is hoping that overseas coaches don’t come and destroy our free flowing game in place of their stereotyped pattern of play.”
He highlighted that the strength of the Fijian Drua (men’s team) is through their offloads.
“The strength and identity of Fijian rugby is their ability to offload,” Boivert said.
“The statistics have indicated this. We had one offload in the game against the Waratahs while they did four. We managed only two against the Brumbies and we lost both games.
“Against the Melbourne Rebels, we had 11 offloads and we won.”
Boivert said the other major weak point in the Fijian Drua side is their lineouts.
“No need to be an expert to see that.
“We should play wide from one wing to another with the forwards coming in only as a second wave of attack.”
He however, said that it was not fair to assess the Drua on their performance against the Waratahs and Brumbies because they were laced with Wallabies players.
“That is international level players against non-international level.
“Each time they play against full international, they will struggle but it’s only by playing against them that you can improve and reach that level.
“The game against the Rebels was more of the Drua’s level.”
Boivert said winger Vinaya Habosi is the most outstanding player so far.
“I’ve got the stats to back that up,” he added.
Feedbacks: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj
