Crucial: Fijian Drua will play a vital home game in Super Rugby Pacific against Queensland Reds.
Crucial: Fijian Drua will play a vital home game in Super Rugby Pacific against Queensland Reds.
There are three rounds left in the regular season, and Saturday’s matchup between the Fijian Drua and the Queensland Reds in Suva could be their last chance to secure a playoff position in Super Rugby Pacific.
This season, the Drua have won every home game they have played, with the exception of a round nine loss to the then-top-ranked Hurricanes. However, they are winless on the road thus far this season. Following Saturday’s game, they play the Melbourne Rebels at home and the Highlanders in Dunedin on the road.
Eighth in the championship rankings going into the weekend, the Drua are two points ahead of Western Force and six points behind the Highlanders. Postseason play is available to the top eight teams.
The Fijians’ 48-10 loss to the Force in Perth last week was arguably their lowest moment of the season. Head coach Mick Byrne stated that if the Drua are to advance to the quarterfinals, they cannot afford any more “slip-ups.”
He claimed that following the early season disappointments, the Drua “forced our way”—albeit very late—into the top eight.
Byrne declared, “We’re in the top eight right now, and we have complete control over it.”
After defeating the Rebels in sixth place 26–22 last weekend, the Reds are now in fifth place. They need to win on Saturday in order to move up into the top four, since they are now seven points behind the Chiefs, who are in fourth place. In the opening round of the playoffs, the top four clubs from the regular season earn home field advantage.
Reds head coach Les Kiss stated, “We know every win we put on the board puts pressure on other people, but we’re not watching the ladder intently and getting hijacked by it.” “Grab this victory, it opens doors.”
For the encounter on Saturday, Kiss has made a number of changes to his starting lineup, starting Floyd Aubrey on the wing in Super Rugby for the first time and replacing Harry Wilson, the dynamic No. 8, who suffered a fractured arm that ended his season.
Kiss declared, “I think it’s important to give young players a chance when they’re good.” Tim Ryan has been demonstrating that, but at this point it’s also important to properly manage their exposure. From the bench, Ryan will have the opportunity to attack this game.
In just two games since making his debut against the Auckland-based Blues, Ryan has scored six tries.
Byrne also selected a rookie, center Waqa Nalaga, who is 20 years old.
Waqa Nalaga, a 20-year-old center, is another player Byrne selected for his debut.
When the Blues play the Highlanders in Auckland on Saturday, they will be defending their #1 spot for the first time this season. They defeated the Hurricanes 31–27 last weekend, vaulting them into first position.
The All Blacks’ Dalton Papali’i warned the Blues not to get too comfortable.
Papali’i remarked, “I’ve been here before (in first place), and we choked in the finals.” “There will be a large crowd present.”
The reigning champion Crusaders will be hosted by the third-place Brumbies in Canberra, the fourth-place Chiefs will take on the Rebels on Friday, and the second-place Hurricanes will travel to Auckland to play Moana Pasifika.
The Christchurch-based Crusaders were anticipated to mount a late-season resurgence, but that has not happened, and they will begin the 13th round in 11th position.
Following the Crusaders’ 32-29 defeat to the Highlanders the previous Saturday, head coach Rob Penney publicly apologized to the supporters. He gave supporters hope that the Crusaders players would not give up.
For the public and the boys’ fans to understand that the boys are truly willing to go above and beyond to achieve the desired result or performance, Penney stated, “the evidence just needs to be more obvious.” “I just wanted to say sorry to everyone.”
