Swire Shipping Fijian Drua co-captain Tevita Ikanivere has expressed concerns about the impact of referee decisions during their Super Rugby Pacific match against the Waratahs, which marked their third consecutive defeat of the season. Following the loss, which left the Drua without a win after three matches, Ikanivere emphasized his belief that some crucial calls were controversial, yet ultimately beyond his control. “I approached him, I questioned him. I questioned the touch judges, but at the end of the day, they’re the boss and whatever they say goes,” he stated. Despite the challenges posed by officiating, Ikanivere is committed to improving and ensuring his team performs better moving forward.
The head coach, Glen Jackson, echoed Ikanivere’s sentiments, noting that, despite the three losses, the morale within the team remains high. “The boys are in good spirits. We’ve done a fair bit of rotation on the last three weeks around our squad. That’s what we wanted,” Jackson commented, addressing the team’s strategy to utilize a broad roster to navigate early season challenges.
Looking ahead, the Drua will face the Chiefs at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, aiming to secure their first win of the season. Jackson’s strategy includes leveraging the recent performances of young talents like Ponipate Loganimasi, who has shown promise and potential despite the team’s setbacks. The coach remains hopeful that the team’s fighting spirit and persistent support from fans will translate into success in their upcoming matches.
This optimistic outlook embodies the essence of resilience within the Drua squad. Their collective determination to turn recent challenges into learning experiences provides fans with every reason to rally behind them as they strive for improvement and success moving forward.
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