Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has opened up about the significant travel challenges his team experienced during their recent trip to New Zealand. Referring to the struggles as “hiccups” during a press conference, Jackson later provided a more detailed account of the hardships, which included transportation issues, last-minute accommodation troubles, and players even traveling in the back of a luggage truck.
Despite these obstacles, Jackson expressed his pride in the team’s performance, particularly in their close match against the Hurricanes and the subsequent game against the Waratahs. He described the six-day journey, which involved back-and-forth travel between Napier, Wellington, and Sydney, while acknowledging the impact of unforeseen weather changes on their schedule.
The challenges began when the team arrived in Auckland just before midnight, only to find their arranged bus unavailable due to a cancellation. This forced players and staff to squeeze into a luggage truck for transport. Additionally, upon reaching Napier, further difficulties arose with a mix-up regarding hotel check-out times, which had implications for their match preparations.
In the gripping match against the Hurricanes, the Drua fell short with a narrow 38-34 defeat. Jackson noted key moments—such as head injuries, including Caleb Muntz’s exit for a Head Injury Assessment—that disrupted the team’s momentum, illustrating how small details can greatly affect match outcomes.
Despite the recent setbacks, the Drua’s commitment to resilience and determination has not gone unnoticed. The emergence of young talent alongside seasoned players speaks volumes about the team’s potential as they look forward to their future matches. Fans remain hopeful that the Drua can leverage their past experiences to forge ahead with renewed vigor.
Jackson’s dedication to building a robust team culture and pinpointing areas for improvement brings a sense of optimism as the Drua forge ahead in the competitive Super Rugby landscape. With ongoing efforts to enhance mental fortitude and gameplay strategies, the Drua are poised to learn from their recent trials and translate them into future victories, offering a promising outlook for their upcoming challenges.
Leave a comment