As Tropical Cyclone Vaianu’s rains ease across Viti Levu, Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has embraced the chaos that unsettled his team’s preparation for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific match against the Western Force in Lautoka. Speaking in a virtual press conference yesterday, Jackson said the disrupted week and compressed preparation have energised him rather than unsettled the squad.
“It excites me when things aren’t quite right with our week,” Jackson said, describing the weather-forced variations to their routine as “bloody good” for the players. The Drua return to Churchill Park at 4.30pm this Saturday after a bruising trip to Christchurch where the Crusaders hammered them 69-26 last weekend — a result that leaves a clear set of issues for Jackson’s coaching staff to address in a short turnaround.
The immediate match-day selection remains uncertain as the team manages a string of absences. Wingers Ponipate Loganimasi and Epeli Momo are sidelined with injuries, and Jackson confirmed that both co-captains, Frank Lomani and Temo Mayanavanua, will also be unavailable. Jackson said match-day decisions will be dictated by the 23 named on the day, indicating reshuffles in leadership and backline roles are likely and that the squad will have to adapt quickly.
Complicating matters further for the Drua was limited outdoor work this week after Cyclone Vaianu swept through parts of Viti Levu. Jackson said the team has had “a couple of indoor sessions” but few opportunities for full-field training, leaving an emphasis on tactical meetings and conditioned drills rather than physical prep on grass. He expects the lack of usual training to leave his players physically fresher but cautioned that game-sharpness will be something they must find on match day.
The Western Force, meanwhile, arrived at Nadi International Airport yesterday and come into the fixture buoyed by a convincing 42-19 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane last week. Jackson acknowledged the visitors will be “fresh” and dangerous, noting the Force have the momentum of a strong result and will have avoided some of the disruption the Drua endured this week.
Saturday’s fixture at Churchill Park presents the Drua with a swift chance to reset after the heavy defeat to the Crusaders. Jackson’s public framing of the week as an opportunity — rather than a setback — signals a coaching group ready to lean on depth and adapt tactically. With several key players unavailable and preparation curtailed, the match will also serve as an early indicator of how resilient the Drua can be under adverse conditions and whether Jackson’s gamble on embracing the chaos translates into on-field performance.
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