Swire Shipping Fijian Drua co-captain Frank Lomani has warned his side faces a stern test at Eden Park tonight, describing the Blues as a tight, physical outfit with a powerful pack that will be difficult to unsettle. The comments come as the Drua prepare for their Round Seven clash in the 2026 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition, scheduled for 6pm this evening in Auckland.
“We have a plan. We know the Blues; they play tight, they have a good physical and they have a big pack so moving them around the field is one of the things that we have spoken about this week,” Lomani told media after the team’s captain’s run near Eden Park yesterday. His remarks underlined a tactical shift focused on mobility and field position as the Drua seek to counter the Blues’ forward strength and defensive structure.
The match in Auckland is the Drua’s second away fixture of the season, their first being the trip to face the NSW Waratahs in Round Two last month. Lomani acknowledged the added significance of playing at Eden Park, where the Drua have yet to record a victory or beat the Blues since joining Super Rugby Pacific in 2022. “Moving on from the game last week, I know it was disappointing but we have another bigger opportunity here in Auckland in Eden Park which is more special and we’ve never won here so that is a bigger challenge,” he said.
Lomani’s leadership will again be important with the squad still adjusting to the loss of co-captain Temo Mayanavanua, who was sidelined earlier in the campaign with a knee injury. Coach Glen Jackson has previously flagged Mayanavanua’s absence as a blow to the leadership group, leaving the team to rely on senior players such as Lomani to marshal the side through testing fixtures on the road.
The Joeli Vidiri Memorial Trophy, a tanoa presented to the winners of encounters between the Blues and Pacific teams in memory of the late Fijian-New Zealand winger, will be contested tonight. The trophy was on display at the New Zealand–Fiji Business Council meeting in Auckland yesterday, highlighting the cultural and community significance attached to the fixture beyond the competition points at stake.
The Blues come into the fixture known for their forward dominance and structured defence, attributes Lomani underlined as keys the Drua must counter. For the Fijian side, the challenge is twofold: execute the tactical plan to stretch and move a heavy Blues pack, and overcome a psychological barrier at a ground where results have so far eluded them. A positive performance at Eden Park would not only earn valuable Super Rugby points but would also mark a milestone in the Drua’s short history in the competition.
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