Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has urged his squad to tighten up and refocus as they prepare for tomorrow’s Round 7 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Auckland Blues at Eden Park, revealing the side will remain in New Zealand for a rare six-day turnaround — a first for the franchise.
Jackson said the decision to stay put is part of a tweak to the team’s routine as they seek to arrest a slide that began with last week’s loss to the Queensland Reds. The defeat produced a mixed reaction from supporters on social media, prompting Jackson to acknowledge fans’ passion while asking players to tune out online noise and concentrate on on-field preparations. “I just really appreciate the supporters that come and watch the game and support us wholeheartedly,” he said. “Social media will continue to be social media. It’s a beautiful place just to vent your frustration… I don’t want our players tied up with anything like that.”
The coach was blunt in his assessment of the Reds game, pinpointing squandered chances rather than fatigue from earlier victories as the main culprit. The Drua had celebrated recent scalps of top sides, Jackson noted — wins over the Hurricanes and Brumbies — but against the Reds “we dropped the ball 36 times, and… we had eight genuine chances to score tries, so we didn’t do that.” He added that the team had lost potential momentum in the first half, saying they “dropped the ball twice over the goal line” when the score was “seven, six, I think at halftime,” moments that could have altered the contest.
Those errors, coupled with impact players not delivering as hoped, have reset the squad’s motivation ahead of a stern test at Eden Park. The Blues arrive with their own ambitions and will be buoyed by home advantage, but Jackson insists the Drua’s approach remains consistent: “It’s just rugby. So, whether it’s home or away, we’ve got to prepare. The boys have been preparing well.”
Staying in New Zealand for the week marks a logistical departure for the Drua, who have usually returned to Fiji between matches. Jackson framed the change as a purposeful adjustment to recovery and match-readiness routines: “So it’s just trying to do things a little bit different around what we do to get this campaign back on track.” The extended stay gives the coaching staff extra time to work on ball security, finishing under pressure and the execution that Jackson identified as lacking against the Reds.
With Eden Park’s imposing atmosphere awaiting, the Drua will be aiming for a more clinical display and fewer unforced errors. Jackson is appealing for calm from fans and concentration from his players as the team tries to convert flashes of promise into consistent results in the opening third of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
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