Tevita Ikanivere, co-captain of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, has voiced his concerns regarding the impact of referee decisions during their recent Super Rugby Pacific match against the Waratahs, which resulted in the Drua’s third consecutive defeat this season. Ikanivere highlighted that some pivotal calls were contentious, but acknowledged that these decisions were ultimately out of his control. He explained, “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.” Despite this frustration, he remains dedicated to improving team performance.
Head coach Glen Jackson shared Ikanivere’s perspective, indicating that despite having suffered three losses, team morale 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,” he noted, reflecting on the strategic decision to rotate players to manage early-season challenges.
As the Drua prepares to face the Chiefs at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, they are targeting their first win of the season. Jackson plans to harness the recent performances of promising young talents like Ponipate Loganimasi, who has shown significant potential even amid the team’s struggles. The coach maintains a hopeful outlook that the Drua’s fighting spirit and unwavering support from their fans will lead to future successes.
This encouraging perspective symbolizes the resilience of the Drua squad. Their commitment to learning from recent setbacks and working towards improvement offers fans compelling reasons to continue rallying behind the team. With a focus on growth and positivity, the Drua looks to turn their fortunes around in the coming matches.
Leave a comment