Fijian Drua ready for Super W opener: Coach

The McDonald’s Fiji Drua Women’s side has been urged to set the tone early in their Super W opener against defending champions NSW Waratahs at the Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.

This was the view of the Drua Women’s team head coach Mike Legge during a press interview with SUNsports yesterday.

“That’s the goal we’ve given the girls,” he said.

“That is to set the tone and to send the message to the rest of the competition this weekend. Our focus, as always, is on the sort of game that we want to play.”

Legge said in order for the team to set the tone right, they would need to work on their strategies to counter the Waratahs.

“It’s always been based around our collision, our set-piece, and then working off the back of that to bring our Fijiana style in attack. So we’ve been working on that probably for the last three or four weeks. In every training, we have a real focus on our collision and the way we want to play the game,” Legge said.

He said they are looking forward to their opening match. Last month, Drua came from behind to hold the Waratahs 27-27 in their pre-season clash in Suva.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how the game goes on Saturday and we’re looking forward to putting a really good show for all our supporters, both here in Sydney and also those back home watching on TV,” he said.

“The team like the Waratahs are a very clinical team and they’ll punish you if you give over easy possession. So our biggest focus from that game in the pre-season, plus the game on the weekend was around our discipline and ball handling,” he said.

He said if they could fix that, it was going to go a long way into achieving how they wanted to play the game and how they wanted to play it at a quick pace.

“Hopefully with that, we can get a positive result. A successful performance is a win.”

The match kicks-off at 4.05pm.

Line-up

Drua: 1. Karalaini Naisewa, 2. Bitila Tawake (c), 3. Tiana Robanakadavu, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Karavaki Lutumaibau*, 6. Carletta Yee, 7. Nunia Daunimoala, 8. Alfreda Fisher, 9. Evivi Senikarivi, 10. Varanisese Qoro*, 11. Aqela Raitubu*, 12. Josivini Naihamu, 13. Ivamere Rokowati*, 14. Kolora Lomani, 15. Litiana Vueti.

Reserves: 16. Keleni Marawa, 17. Zipporah Sorokacika**, 18. Keri Lawavou**, 19. Vilisi Tivalele**, 20. Salaseini Railumu, 21. Vatiseva Cavuru**, 22. Ruth Raketekete**, 23. Michella’e Stolz**

Waratahs: 1. Brianna Hoy, 2. Adiana Talakai, 3. Bridie O’Gorman, 4. Leilani Nathan, 5. Kaitlan Leaney, 6. Piper Duck, 7. Emily Chancellor (c), 8. Nicole Nathan, 9. Piper Simons, 10. Pleuni Klevit, 11. Desiree Miller, 12. Rosie Ferguson, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 14. Amelia Whitaker, 15. Caitlyn Halse

Reserves: 16. Brittany Merlo, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Seneti Kilisimasi, 19. Grace Gillies, 20. Taj Heald, 21. Martha Harvey, 22. Edie Burke, 23. Lusiana Vesikula.