Waratahs plotting Super ambush of Fijian Drua

The NSW Waratahs intend to “do a job” on the Fijian Drua rain, hail, or sun in an attempt to rekindle their Super Rugby Pacific playoffs chances.

The Waratahs know that winning will probably mean the difference between them and the Drua when they play them on Saturday in front of about 15,000 fervent supporters at a sold-out Churchill Park in Lautoka.

After both teams upset the reigning champion Crusaders, they are now one win out of four this season.

One of four NSW players with Fijian ancestry, back-rower Langi Gleeson, has forewarned teammates they’re about to step into a fiery pot.

Gleeson remarked, “It’s almost like it’s a fortress,” before to Friday’s captain’s run.

“Being a Drua is never easy, especially in their hometown. It’s difficult to stop them since their audience really gets behind them.

We’ll definitely remember this game for the rest of our careers, especially considering the heat and humidity and the size of the audience.

“But we’ll try and do a job on them this Saturday.”

The Waratahs should be more concerned about Drua coach and former Wallabies assistant Mick Byrne’s assertion that his players are already approaching peak fitness this season than about the Fiji weather office’s severe rain and flood forecasts this week.

Despite having a 1-3 record, the Drua outscored Moana Pasifika and the Blues, who had defeated the Waratahs the previous day, in the second half and held the Crusaders to zero after the break.

“I’ve played the Drua the most physically,” Gleeson remarked.

“A lot of sore bodies for like two weeks after playing the Drua so it’s just about getting in those contacts and wrapping the ball.”

The Tahs are unbeaten in their last four encounters with the Drua and are coming off back-to-back two-point home losses to the Highlanders and Blues.

However, rather than depressing them, Darren Coleman’s team has been strengthened by the close defeats.

“It gives us a lot of confidence to match those teams, as opposed to last year; we wouldn’t even get close to them,” remarked Gleeson.

“We’re improving every week and there’s a lot to learn from that game against the Blues.”

The Waratahs women will play the defending champion Fijian Drua in a rematch of last year’s semi-final, providing fans with a double-header treat.

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