New Zealand Clubs Next! Drua Must Lift Game

It is very common to walk around a rugby field, no matter which code or level, and listen to coach­es and supporters screaming: “Pres­sure, Pressure” all the time.

This is a key component the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will have to work on and apply if they are to match the New Zealand teams.

On stats we look good on our de­fensive set with 86 per cent, our set-pieces was at 89 per cent far better than the Brumbies and we kick, pass and made 495 carries (includes kick, pass and running metres) more than the Brumbies who had 348 with 48 per cent possession and 39 per cent territory.

Now it is time to work and built on these stats applying pressure rugby for 80 minutes against top class teams like the Auckland Blues, Cru­saders and the Highlanders to name a few.

The challenge now is to lift our in­tensity in pressure rugby to disrupt our opposition’s game pattern and structure.

The most important thing is that everyone knows their role and is comfortable with executing it.

We should minimise our mistakes and build on pressure and on areas that we can dominate in the match.

During this Easter weekend break, players should gain lots of expe­rience in these situations so they won’t panic when faced with similar scenarios in matches.

Applying early pressure on set-piec­es, kicks, support skills can force op­positions to make mistakes.

Pressure and pressing can be ap­plied anywhere on the field from the front to the back.

Defensive and attacking line speed communication will be vital against NZ teams because they will be fast and strong.

This will not only improves basic passing, kicking and support skills, but also develops decision making, vision, awareness and communica­tion under pressure as well.

These are key pressure points that will allow the Drua to manipulate their oppositions both in attack and defensive pattern.

The Fijian Drua side will have to be serious in the way they approach their matches.

Making the right decisions in tight situations, close to their own line under pressure can be crucial to the Drua’s success in terms of identify­ing the miss match in attack or de­fense in order to apply pressure.

It is also not difficult to see some players looking around without knowing what to do or aimlessly running to attack or defend.

In an interview captain Meli Der­enalagi said the team would be train­ing hard this Easter weekend.

“I know that we’ll go out for this bye week and try to learn our weak­nesses so when we come back well be coming back strong and try to build up and learn to be competitive again in this competition,” he said.

The side have one win out of eight games and plays the Blues on April 23 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

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