Super Rugby Pacific | Lucky escape … Drua keeps hope alive

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side had a close escape in the 47-46 win over winless Moana Pasifika in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash at Lautoka’s Churchill Park yesterday.

While the win keeps alive the Drua’s chances of qualifying to the quarter-finals, it sounded a warning to the Fijians of how important game management is.

The Drua led 47-27 at one stage of the second spell but nearly lost the match if it wasn’t for a missed conversion by Moana Pasifika after the final hooter.

Drua coach Mick Byrne said putting the foot off the accelerator is something the team will be discussing ahead of its last regular season match against the Reds next week.

“That’s probably something we’ll ask ourselves in review. We know there’ll be some instances in the game that we can go to and try to hold on,” he said.

“But at this stage it is too early to sort of go and pinpoint and we’ll have a good chat about that. It’s been a big couple of years for these guys. You know that I keep finding out every week.

“It’s been a long couple of years and we’ll freshen them up this week and be ready to get to next week against the Reds and be ready for another big physical session,” Byrne added.

The Drua face the Reds at 4.35pm at the HFC bank Stadium next Saturday.