The Fijian Drua return home determined to snap a two-match losing run when they host the Western Force, with the club and the wider nation still reeling from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu. The match offers an opportunity not just for competition points but for a morale boost after disruption from storm damage and recent training interruptions.
Head coach Glen Jackson said the squad is eager to put a performance together for supporters. “We want to play well. We want to play rugby. I know the boys are super excited to get back here,” Jackson said, while also acknowledging the tension around recent results. The Drua have lost their past two fixtures on tour in New Zealand, including a 38-7 defeat to the Force in their last meeting, and Jackson said the players have been tested by facing some of the competition’s best teams in quick succession.
The Force, however, arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting 42-19 upset over the Queensland Reds, a result Jackson described as a “little bit of a surprise” and evidence that the Australian side has been building form in recent weeks. With both teams sitting on eight log points after eight rounds, the match has added significance; the Drua slipped from ninth to tenth on the standings following their recent losses, and Jackson has been clear that a strong home showing is needed to keep top-six ambitions alive.
Selection news provides fresh intrigue. Jackson confirmed his core forwards remain unchanged in the tight five, but made several alterations in the loose forwards and backline to manage workload and inject fresh legs. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre has been rested after heavy minutes this season; Jackson labelled him “our outstanding 13” but said it was important to manage his game time. Motikai Murray returns at open-side flanker after a couple of weeks off, and Jackson reported Murray is “looking really fit and ready to go.”
The back three sees shuffles as well, with Isikeli Basiyalo handed his first opportunity on the wing this year. Isaia Droasese will shift to the left wing and Isikeli Rabitu will come in at fullback, alterations intended to sharpen the team’s attacking options. Jackson said he hopes a renewed link between the midfield — including the in-form Iosefo Namoce — and the back three will produce cohesion the Drua have lacked in recent matches.
Severe weather this week caused “training disruptions,” Jackson conceded, forcing the coaching staff to balance preparation with player welfare as they finalise plans. Despite those obstacles, the coach has emphasised the emotional importance of the fixture for Fiji. “We’ve also talked to the players about the good potential in making the top six. We’ve got to make sure that we are back home and really put a performance together that people will be proud of,” he said.
With both sides level on points, the fixture will test whether the Drua can steady themselves after back-to-back defeats and channel the urgency of their national moment into a performance. The selection tweaks — a rested Samusamuvodre, Murray’s return, and Basiyalo’s wing debut — reflect a squad balancing form, fitness and the wider responsibility of lifting spirits at a difficult time for many Fijians.
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