{"id":369673,"date":"2024-02-21T23:25:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T00:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=369673"},"modified":"2024-02-22T01:03:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T01:03:11","slug":"almost-unbeatable-greats-huge-call-on-fijian-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=369673","title":{"rendered":"'Almost unbeatable': Great's huge call on Fijian team"},"content":{"rendered":"

There's optimism the Fijian Drua could host a Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> quarter-final in 2024, which one expert has hailed a "scary prospect" for prospective rivals.<\/p>\n

The Drua have made significant strides forward since their first year in the competition in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In their debut season, they wound up 11th in the 12-team competition. A year later, they finished seventh before being defeated by the Crusaders<\/a> in their quarter-final.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Reynolds accepts pay cut in new Broncos deal<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Giant who stunned Hewitt retires 21 years later<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Origin captains, Dally M gun snubbed for top 10 honour<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The forthcoming season marks year three for the Drua in Super Rugby Pacific \u2013 and with it comes hope the team becomes a force.<\/p>\n

\"Fijian<\/p>\n

The all-Fijian team features 18 players with Rugby World Cup experience. With that comes great expectations for the season ahead.<\/p>\n

"If they're playing in Fiji, they're almost unbeatable," said former Wallabies player Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport's season preview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"They're a completely different team \u2013 yes, the crowd and everything \u2013 but they just rise to the occasion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"Their trouble has been consistency and travelling. That's what it'll be. If you're playing them at home, you're a little bit more confident than if you have to get on the plane."<\/p>\n

\"Simione<\/p>\n

Former Blues hooker James Parsons is confident the Drua can be a side that threatens the top four. That would earn them a home quarter-final.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the Drua won half of their home games. The team famously defeated the Crusaders, 25-24, in an upset for the ages.<\/p>\n

While success was forthcoming at home, the team didn't win any of its away games.<\/p>\n

"They'll need to be better and they'll need to learn to win away from home," said Parson.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1760129589517721790<\/a><\/p>\n

"They're great at home and no one is going to turn up in Fiji with their B side anymore. You're going to be sending the big dogs because it's a hard game to win.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"They need to get their strategy right when they travel, and if they can do that then maybe they'll get a home quarter-final. It's a scary prospect."<\/p>\n

"No one wants to go there," added Turinui.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"You mention Mick Byrne (head coach), talking to him in the first two years it's all about getting them physically right to play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"They weren't up to Super Rugby standards physically. They've done that work now. They've been to a World Cup. They've got confidence. Now we can get tactically a bit innovative but also work on that mindset about being away from home."<\/p>\n

BLUES vs FIJIAN DRUA in Whangarei, Saturday 2.35pm AEDT<\/strong><\/p>\n

BLUES (15-1):<\/strong> Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Anton Segner, Josh Beehre, Sam Darry, Angus Ta'avao, Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a<\/p>\n

Reserves:\ufeff<\/strong> Ricky Riccitelli, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, AJ Lam, Cole Forbes<\/p>\n

DRUA\ufeff (15-1):<\/strong> Isikeli Rabitu, Epeli Momo, Iosefo Masi, Apisalome Vota, Selestino Ravutaumada, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Frank Lomani, Meli Derenalagi (c), Ella Canakaivata, Etonia Waqa, Leone Rotuisolia, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Doge, Tevita Ikanivere, Livai Natave<\/p>\n

Reserves:<\/strong> Mesulame Dolokoto, Emosi Tuqiri, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Vilive Miramira, Peni Matawalu, Kemu Valetini, Tudraki Samusamuvodre<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There's optimism the Fijian Drua could host a Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in 2024, which one expert has hailed a "scary prospect" for prospective rivals. […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":369676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=369673"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":369682,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369673\/revisions\/369682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/369676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=369673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=369673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=369673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}