The Fijian Drua lost 40-10 to the Waratahs in their Super Rugby Pacific 2022 debut in New South Wales last night, but team coach Mick Byrne and captain Nemani Nagusa were optimistic in their review of the game.
Nagusa who scored the Drua’s first and only try in the encounter and Byrne spoke highly of the team’s resilience and persistence in the game, resulting in the try in the final quarter of the encounter.
“They went out there and express themselves and I’m really proud of the way they fought out in the game and then hung in there. I am really proud of our first step out to Super rugby 22,” Byrne said.
They also noted the gaps that the squad would need to work on before their next game.
“I think there were three or four we turned over in the attacking 22,” Byrne said. “We threw a couple of passes that usually come up and we turned over a couple of lineouts. So this combination, I think the pace of the game. The boys now realize what’s Super rugby is all about.”
Nagusa rued the missed opportunities as well, and hoped the team would do better next week to execute opportunities when they are presented.
“Disappointing,” he said. “We spent a lot of time in their 22, but turned up empty-handed. Our execution was not there, but we take the learnings and go again next week. As I said, that’s happened, we just learn from it. We take that learnings into our next game.”
The Fijian Drua’s other points came from Nagusa who converted his own try and a penalty by Baden Kerr in the first half. Waratahs led 21-3 at half-time.
The Drua currently bring up the tail end of the Super Rugby Pacific table, ahead of their game against the Brumbies next Saturday at the GIO Stadium in Canberra, kicking off at 3.35pm (Fiji Time).
Photo: Fijian Drua
