“We don’t care about what people say. We just turn up and represent Fiji” – Frank Lomani, Drua captain
After suffering back to back losses, Fijian Drua have bounced back in style by claiming their first win of the Super Rugby Pacific season season, dispatching a strong Hurricanes side in the Lautoka mud on the weekend.
The 25-20 victory was hard fought, juggling the bipolar conditions Lautoka had to offer. For head coach Glen Jackson, the win was a representation of the team’s hard work and grit.
He was also quick to praise the efforts shown by his captain Frank Lomani who led the side bravely around the park.
“It’s not easy when you start 2-0, and trying to have the belief that the 80 minute performance we need is around the corner,” Jackson says.
“I think we were unbelievably well led. Frank Lomani epitomises what it’s like to represent the Drua. To start at 9 and then end up on the wing and create turnovers is exactly why he’s everything about the Drua.”
For Lomani, the win was a statement performance by Drua, who had faced a lot of criticism after their first two losses.
“We don’t really care about what people say. Those are just outside noise. It doesn’t change the way we turn up every day for this team,” Lomani says.
“We turn up, we train and we still represent Fiji. We just play to our game plan and execute it.”
With a bye coming up this week for Drua, their focus will now be on how best to utilise the break to rest and recover.
“This competition is ridiculously hard and we know it,” Jackson says.
“We’ve taken a lot of energy out of everyone’s bodies so it’s important they rest.”
Meanwhile, despite their impressive round one win against the Drua in Fiji, the other ‘Pacific’ side in the competition, has found the last couple of weeks tough going.
Moana Pasifika played their round 3 match at Navigation Stadium in Pukekohe, a home game which they lost 35 – 19 against the Western Force.
