Mastering set-pieces and staying tuned on for the full 80 minutes are two critical areas the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will need to keep check on in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Both sides played two trial matches each in the last three weeks, as pre-season warm-ups that gave the respective teams coaches the opportunity to test out players and different combinations.

While many may argue that the results on the scoreboard were not important, the lessons learned would have been worth it for both the Pacific islands players based franchises.

The Fijian Drua played the Australian sides Brumbies and the Rebels in their pre-season matches, while Moana Pasifika took on the New Zealand-based Highlanders and the Hurricanes.

With five days to go to tweak moves and combinations, both the Drua and Moana Pasifika will need to be on top of their game if they want to make an impressive start.

Switching on from the first whistle to the last, the two teams will need to be in the game for the whole 80 minutes of rugby.

The Fijian Drua started both their pre-season games with a bang.

Against the Brumbies, the Meli Derenalgi captained side led 28-24 at halftime, after having led 21-7 in the first quarter of the game.

They eventually lost 43-40 in the end.

Against the Rebels on Friday night the Drua outfit led 21-7 at halftime.

They could not find their rhythm in the second spell as the Rebels scored 19 unanswered points to claim a 26-21 victory in the end.

Derenalagi said they have had a tough pre-season program but they are now looking forward to the first round against the Blues in Whangarei on Saturday.

“The boys are putting their hands up to be part of the first 23 squad that will be named. It will be a tough competition between the players on who will don the jersies for the first fifteen,” he said.

He said they have their focus on winning a home quarterfinal game, which means they will have to finish in the top four of the competition.

Drua have seven home matches and if their record of playing at home is anything to go by, the Fijians should be able to make the top eight at least for the second season in a row.

But finishing the game hard on top of the good starts they have shown in the past will be key for them.

Source: RNZ