One of the areas the Fijian Drua will work on is the breakdown.
Going up against a team that’s very effective at the breakdown like Crusaders, Head Coach Mick Byrne believes if they’re not careful, the 10 time champions will take full advantage.
Byrne said they know which players are supposed to be first at a breakdown and he’ll sit down with them in this next few days.
He said the Crusaders is one of the best teams that effectively utilise turnover balls.
“What happens in Super Rugby is that if you do arrive one metre than you should, there is probably going to be a turnover. We can’t have players to be waiting for something to happen behind the breakdown, we have to get in there and create the story that we want.”
Meanwhile, Fijian Drua lock Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta will miss this weekend’s Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders due to injury.
The 24-year-old injured his nose during the first half of last week’s win against Moana Pasifika.
Head Coach, Mike Bryne says Cirikidaveta’s absence will truly have an impact on the forward pack, but players’ safety will always come first.
“It’s a shame for Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta because he has been one of the most consistent players for the past few weeks and it will be a shame for us and a shame for him, that he doesn’t get to play in his franchise area, he is a Tasman boy and would love to go in with the Crusaders boys.”
While Cirikidaveta is out, Byrne says he is tempted to keep the same line-up from last week’s clash, but it will all be determined after injury assessment.
The Drua takes on the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch on Friday at 7:05pm..
SOURCE: FBC SPORTS/PACNEWS
