On top of the table after two wins in the National Rugby Championship (NRC), the Fijian Drua have restored confidence in their ability to compete with Australian teams, their coach says.
In 2017, the Drua finished third in their inaugural NRC campaign with four wins from eight games. Two weeks into the 2018 season the Fijians are leading the truncated eight team competition with two bonus point victories, a point clear of former Super Rugby side the Western Force.
The Fijian Drua made a winning start against Melbourne Rising. Photo: Fiji Rugby
After a 40-17 win over the Melbourne Rising in Fiji's Nausuori in week one and a 66-5 demolition of Brisbane City in Lautoka in week two, Drua coach Senirusi Seruvakula praised his players' professionalism.
"The boys are starting to feel they have full confidence in playing at this level with Australian teams," he said.
"I was really proud of how they played. They stuck to our game pattern. That's what we talked about before the game and I found they processed it well for the week."
But with their next two games on the road, the first of which against the undefeated Queensland Country, the Drua knew their season would only get harder, the coach said.
"It's going to get tougher every week and that's the talk in team."
"All these Australian teams will be reviewing our game and how they can disrupt the momentum of the Drua," Seruvakula said.
"So we need to do the process well again. Come back to Earth, forget about these two wins and play these two hard games away from home."
