Coach praises Isikeli Rabitu despite Drua loss to Waratahs

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has praised the performance of Isikeli Rabitu in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific round 2 clash against the Waratahs last Friday. 

Despite their 13-36 loss against the Waratahs, Rabitu was impressive in his first start at second five eight. 

The Naila, Bau, Tailevu lad who shares maternal links to Noco, Rewa was the Drua’s Player of the Match at Allianz Stadium, Sydney. 

“For Isikeli, it was unreal at 12,” Jackson said at the post-match presser. 

“He just re-signed for us and he’s going to be a superstar in the making. He already is. He was a young man, just turned 21, last couple of weeks ago, so, you know, he’s just a kid.” 

Jackson said they have a lot of young players who are always stepped up when given the task including Rabitu and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula. 

“You got a 21-year-old at 10 and a 21-year-old at 12, and you know, that’s what the drill is.

“We’ve got young men - like, that’s our team and it’s going to continue to be like that with young Fijians, and they’ve just got to learn, and unfortunately, the learning is on the rugby field in front of people watching on TV. 

“So that’s fast learning, and we know he’s a great player and will continue to be a good player,” he said. 

He added they cannot point the loss to any particular individual. 

“It’s not always, someone else’s fault. I think when you’ve got an opposition that actually can play as well as the Waratahs did, I think you’ve just got to say, fair play.

“Our line breaks, I think, were always pretty high in the competition.

“It’s about just understanding to look after that ball and convert those line breaks to points. 

“Waratahs, which we knew, they have a very fast line speed. I’m not sure that was very well looked after, actually.

“They’ve changed the way they defend, and we knew that, and I thought we stopped their line speed for a while) with some kicks in behind, but, you know, again, they just finished off well.” 

He added that the six-day turnaround was a hurdle for his side which was also faced by the Moana Pasifika who they played in the first round in Lautoka. 

“You’d think that draw could have been done a little bit better for the second week when you’re talking about looking after players’ safety or well-being, I suppose.” 

The Drua will host the Hurricanes at Churchill Park, Lautoka on Saturday.