It’s win-win for Fijian Drua fans, who can’t wait for Wallabies sensation Mark Nawaqanitawase and his NSW Waratahs cohorts to light up Lautoka.
The Waratahs will play their historic first Super Rugby Pacific match in Fiji on Saturday after NSW’s previous two “away” games fell in Super Round in Australia.
One of several players in the squad with Fijian heritage, Nawaqanitawase’s father’s family live in Nalebaleba, about two hours away from Churchill Park.
The ground, which seats about 14,000, will be packed to the rafters even though Nawaqanitawase’s cousin, Jone Koroiduadua, didn’t make the Drua 23 for the crucial round-five clash after starting in their past two games.
“I think the whole village is trying to get out there, which would be pretty cool,” Nawaqanitawase said before the Waratahs flew out on Thursday.
“”It’s just hard to find some tickets because they’ve already sold out the whole thing.
“So it’s been pretty special. It’s very special to have a Fijian side in Super Rugby Pacific, and for a lot of the boys who have Fijian heritage, it’s pretty cool to be able to go back to where the families are from and play in front of them.
“It’s very exciting for all of us.”
Adding to the occasion, Nawaqanitawase is playing his milestone 50th match for the Waratahs, three years after announcing his arrival with a try-scoring double against the mighty Crusaders on debut.
But the Wallabies star isn’t expecting any favours from the Drua, who are as desperate as the Tahs to post a much-needed victory.
Both sides enter the match with a one-from-four record this campaign and struggling to stay in touch with the competition pacesetters, with the Waratahs ninth and Drua 10th on the 12-team ladder.
The Waratahs boast a 4-0 winning record over the Pacific Islanders, but have never played the Drua at home.
Intriguingly, both sides’ only wins this season have come against the defending champions, the Crusaders.
Asked what will make the Drua so dangerous on home soil, Nawaqanitawase shrugged: “They’re Fiji.
“They obviously love the game over there. It’s the No.1 sport and every team the Drua runs out you can see on the TV how packed it is and the fans go crazy.
“The players use that energy on the field, and I’m sure it’s going to be a big crowd out there.
“We’ll have a tough day, but I’m sure our boys are ready for it.”
Unless both teams make the finals, it’s likely Izaia Perese will be playing the Drua for the last time after the Waratahs on Thursday night confirmed the strike centre would leave the club at season’s end.
Perese has signed a two-year year deal with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.
SOURC: AAP/PACNEWS
