Drua’s win against Crusaders has Chiefs on high alert

Drua’s win against Crusaders has Chiefs on high alert

By Alipate Narawa
Saturday 16/03/2024

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coming off a 20-10 win over the Crusaders in Lautoka, has the Chiefs on high alert, in a competition looking a lot more open than in previous years.

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says he would love to go over to Fiji and enjoy their hospitality, but it’s a bloody tough place to play.

McMillan highlighted this before their game against the Drua tonight saying it is probably one of the first things he looks at when looking at the draws.

Having started the season with a win over the Crusaders, then a thrashing of the Brumbies in the Super Round in Melbourne, last year’s runners-up suffered a surprise slip-up to the Reds in Brisbane last Saturday.

But the big elephant in the room, of course, is the Drua’s form at home compared to their form on the road.

Up against the five Kiwi teams, the Drua have a 3-3 win-loss record when playing in Fiji, for an average scoreline of 25-24 against them.

Against those sides when playing outside of Fiji? The Drua are 0-7, for an average losing score of a whopping 50-12.

McMillan knows first-hand from his side’s wild 35-34 cling-on win in Lautoka in 2022, while in a quirk of the schedule, the Chiefs, as well as the Highlanders, have been able to now host the Fijians two years in a row.

In saying that, the coach feels the Drua have also demonstrated some improvements with their road game, and mentality, and knows if his side clock off at any stage, they could easily be punished.

Averaging not just the most carry metres and linebreaks of any side through three rounds, the Drua went into the weekend also top for scrum success and goalkicking, so the makings are there for a more well-rounded unit.

The Chiefs play the Drua at 6.30 tonight at FMG Stadium, Waikato.

In other games, the Highlanders host the Brumbies at 3.35 this afternoon while the Waratahs play the Blues at 8.35 tonight.

In games played last night, the Hurricanes edged the Crusaders 14-10, the Reds thrashed the Rebels 53-26 while Moana Pasifika beat the Force 22-14.

Source: Stuff.co

Finals

DateTimeTeamTeam
Final -
Sat 22 JuneFull Time Blues41 - 10Chiefs
Click here for more fixtures

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Parents pushing children to go out and sell drugs – Father Sigarara
A qualified psychologist has raised concerns on how our society, that professes to be Christian, have become so cold that even parents and adults are ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Residents from Lami to Nausori likely to face water cuts due to water turbidity
Thousands of residents living in areas between Lami to Nausori are likely to face water cuts due to a steady increase in raw water turbidity levels ...
24 minutes ago

18 people undergoing treatment after bus collides with 4x4 vehicle in Lautoka
18 people are currently being treated at the Lautoka Hospital after a Goundar Shipping bus collided with a 4x4 vehicle this afternoon. Police have ...
54 minutes ago

Barriers to digital finance leave vulnerable Fijians struggling
Vulnerable groups across Fiji—including elderly villagers, low-income families and rural communities face significant obstacles in accessing ...
1 hour ago

Education Ministry investigates alleged grant misuse and workplace harassment at Ba school
The Ministry of Education is investigating allegations of misuse of the Free Education Grant and workplace harassment at a primary school in Ba, ...
1 hour ago

Bureau of Stats completes Employment and Unemployment Survey, report expected mid 2025
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics has completed its Employment and Unemployment Survey last month, wrapping up a data collection activity that took a ...
1 hour ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
5 days ago

Continuous Radiology and Pharmacy services are now expected at Government Hospitals
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals ...
5 days ago

Ratu Wiliame Katonivere declines Presidential nomination after an internal audit and investigation report
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term ...
6 days ago

TOP