Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has flagged the breakdown as the pivotal battlefield ahead of Sunday’s Round 11 meeting with the Chiefs in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition, saying the side’s recent away win over the ACT Brumbies has given the squad fresh belief as they head into another tough road test.
Jackson warned both teams pride themselves on physicality at the breakdown and that domination there will likely determine the outcome. “The breakdown is going to be massive for both teams. It has been throughout the competition,” he said. “I think whoever wins the breakdown usually wins the game. The Chiefs are very strong there, especially with their loose forwards, and they’ve got quality players right across the park.”
The coach also underlined the Drua’s growing maturity and experience as a factor that could influence the contest. Fresh from what he described as a historic upset in Canberra, Jackson said the squad is carrying “a bit of quiet confidence” and that new and returning personnel now understand the team’s desired style of play — the Drua’s so-called DNA. “We’ve got players now with over 50 caps in Super Rugby. We don’t talk too much about getting an away win, we believe it will come,” he added, pointing to the Brumbies result as evidence the group can perform overseas.
Jackson highlighted the leadership provided by senior recruits and established campaigners, naming international star Virimi Vakatawa, wing Manasa Mataele and captain Temo Mayanavanua as key figures who continue to guide the team, particularly in high-pressure away fixtures. Their experience, he suggested, will be important in the tight exchanges around the breakdown and in managing the match’s momentum.
The Drua’s itinerary has been testing — a return from Canberra to Sydney, a brief stop in Fiji and then north to Christchurch — but Jackson said the travel has not disrupted preparations. He insisted the squad remains focused and well-prepared for the physical test the Chiefs will present, particularly given the opposition’s strengths among their loose forwards.
With momentum building after their breakthrough win, the Drua will be aiming to back up last week’s performance by neutralising the Chiefs’ strengths at the breakdown and imposing their own game plan. Jackson’s message is clear: control that area and the result is likely to follow, and the Drua believe they now have the experience to do just that.
Leave a comment