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Opinion
Looking ahead at the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific fixtures, the short term road for Fijian Drua speaks of opportunity. While the ladder and numbers might suggest otherwise, a first Super Rugby scalp may come a little sooner than many believe.
As a new player in the freshly invigorated competition, life up against hardened, professional and disciplined squads well versed in competing at the elite level was never going to be easy. The opening rounds of the season have confirmed that reality.
Situated at the foot of the ladder after two weeks of play, Drua have been dusted up by the impressive Waratahs and Brumbies by a cumulative total of 82 points to 13, scored just one try and looked far from a side ready to win on a consistent basis.
However, anyone viewing those matches would have noted more than just the impressive moments dished up by the Australian clubs. They would also have seen the kernels of a seriously impressive Fijian spirited rugby team.
A few might find such a claim difficult to validate, especially amidst some of the frustrating and poor moments dished up by Drua, which potentially mask many of the positives that are obviously there.
Frankly, in terms of professionalism, decision making, poise and game management, Drua have been, at best, a three out of ten over the opening two rounds.
Against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the visitors were physical, passionate and powerful, yet their performance was littered with fundamental errors and impulsive decisions that saw them well off the pace from the opening whistle.
Quick taps just metres out from their own try line, forced passes that if held back could have led to another phase or two and increased the defensive pressure on the Brumbies, as well as poor general ball control were all disappointing features of the Drua performance.
The line-outs were something of a mess at times, communication between the fly-half and backs far from fluent and the cool-headed composure required to execute while attacking the line appeared almost non-existent.
Yeah, terrific performance I can hear you say. Where on earth could you find promise in all of that mediocrity? While that might be a fair question to pose, there were actually a host of areas where the new club looked potentially effective.
Taking on a world-class front row led by Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa, the trio of Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Tevita Ikanivere and Samuela Tawake never took a backward step, held their own and drew a number of penalties from their more experienced direct opponents.
Choosing to scrummage when presented with other options spoke of their confidence in that area and the ACT forwards left the field knowing they had been in a contest.
Kitione Salawa looks a promising number seven and alongside the other mobile forwards, formed a hardworking and effective road block whenever the Brumbies sought to make metres through the centre of the field.
Winger Vinaya Habosi looks like nothing short of a weapon when advancing with the ball and Kalaveti Ravouvou, Apisalome Vota and Onisi Ratave were handfuls for the Brumby defence on the rare occasions they were given the opportunity to attack.
Simione Kuruvoli and Caleb Muntz struggled in the halves, yet the injection of Peni Matawalu after 57 minutes improved structure and should see him earn a starting position in coming weeks.
For long periods of the second-half, the home side was under the pump and defending bravely as Drua consistently attacked their line. There was insufficient polish in that attack to score the points the visitors potentially deserved, yet the signs were there that the plight of Fijian Drua is set on an upward future course.
And it is that future which presents immense opportunity for them, with a match-up against the similarly winless Rebels this coming Friday, before the Reds and Force await in Rounds 4 and 5.
Whilst the latter two of those three fixtures may prove beyond Fijian Drua in its current form, the clash with the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium in Round 3 could well be their best opportunity to date to register the first of what will be many wins in Super Rugby over the next decade.
The Rebels may have just a little too much experience and quality for the Fijians to overcome this Friday, but a stunning upset or one somewhere else along the line is far from out of the question.
So far, the passes have not stuck, passion has overruled precision and brawn outshone brains, yet there was enough on show against the Brumbies to suggest that a team or two will be shocked and/or toppled by the emerging Drua in this year’s competition.
The big question is exactly when it will happen.