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'The boys were just on fire': Drua turn frustration to ecstasy in Lautoka win
The Crusaders hadn’t lost their opening three games of a Super Rugby season since 1996, but you can add 2024 to that record now the team have been dismissed by a firing Fijian Drua outfit in Lautoka.
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Both sides entered the round three contest without a win to their names in 2024, but it wasn’t the reigning champions who snapped that streak, instead having a nightmare start to new coach Rob Penney’s tenure confirmed. The Crusaders have been relegated to 11th place on the table.
Heading into the season, captain Scott Barrett was adamant the turnover in both on and off-field talent hadn’t dented the championship potential of his side, but it looks as if a new reality is starting to become clear for the serial winners.
Following the loss in Lautoka, Barrett acknowledged some of the team’s weak areas and gave credit to their opposition.
“I think we just didn’t execute, we had multiple opportunities down there, particularly around our lineout and we just weren’t sharp and clinical like we hoped,” Barrett said on the match broadcast.
“We were clear on our game plan, it was pretty simple. We just didn’t execute. It was a greasy ball, little opportunities and if you give the Fijian Drua a sniff, they’ll really punish you.”
Damp conditions made handling errors a prominent part of the contest, contributing to 20 Crusader turnovers.
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The Drua doubled their visitors’ post-contact metres and also forced them to make almost three times as many tackles.
Drua captain Meli Derenalagi told RugbyPass prior to the season’s start the Crusaders were the team he would most like to beat in 2024 and provided a far more joyful post-match interview following the win, dedicating the result to his team’s faithful supporters.
“The last two games we were frustrated and disappointed with two losses so coming in on Monday, the boys switched on their mindset. It’s our first home game so when we came in, it was quiet in the gym, back in Nadi, so I told the boys ‘I think we are on. We are tired of losing and those frustrations and disappointments’, we collected all together.
“So, this week when we came out, the boys were just on fire and tried to defend our turf.”
While the Drua’s home games are quickly gaining fame for the team’s winning record and vibrant atmosphere, Derenalagi also told RugbyPass he wasn’t interested in the home fixtures becoming the most feared in the competition, instead hoping they become the most exciting.
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The captain elaborated on the halftime messages the team’s coaching staff delivered at half time during the Crusaders-beating effort.
“The learnings was our defence, we should keep the pressure on and keep on moving forward, not waiting for them and try to bring that physicality to them.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments