Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua Head Coach Senirusi Seruvakula has named national sprint champion Younis Bese on the right wing for the final round-robin match against the Brumbies in the Super W Championship on Saturday.
Bese who joined the Fijiana Drua last week came in as a replacement in the second half of the match against the NSW Waratahs last Friday and has been named as one of the eight changes from the starting lineup last week.
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Fijiana Drua Head Coach Senirusi Seruvakula had made six changes and a few positional shifts in the run-on team for the second-round clash against the Queensland Reds in the Super W Championship on Saturday.
The Fijiana Drua team will embark on its maiden voyage this Saturday when they take on Melbourne Rebels in Round One of the 2022 Super W Competition.
The Senirusi Seruvakula coached side is stacked with local and overseas-based players, all of whom will make their Super W debut.
Seruvakula has named 19 local players in his squad. These players have experience of playing internationally as they have featured for Fijiana XV’s in during the Rugby World Cup qualification in 2019.
Seruvakula believes that the team’s first match will be a tough one but he is confident that they will play to the best of their ability.
“We haven’t played in any international tournaments since the extended squad was named more than two years ago. It will be a big test for us, but I know the players will play their hearts out on Saturday”.
“The Melbourne Rebels is a very experienced side that has been playing together for the past 3 years, so I have reminded the players to remain consistent, maintain discipline and play according to the game plan.”
He added that playing on their home ground, the Melbourne Rebels is expected to put up a tough battle, but he has urged the players to play with full confidence.
“We have a very young and new team with many first-timers. Definitely, the nerves and excitement will be there but we need to get in the game quickly and play the full 80 minutes with confidence, patience and cool heads.”
Bitila Tawake has been named the captain of the side and is confident of a good outing against a strong Melbourne Rebels.
“I’m so excited to lead this exciting and enthusiastic pack and with the assistance of the experienced players my job on the field will also become easy,” said Tawake.
Fijiana Drua takes on the Melbourne Rebels this Saturday at 5.30pm at the Endeavor Hills Rugby Club Grounds in Melbourne.
Fijiana Drua Team
Reserves:
Fijiana Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula said he was not going to make any excuses flying into Melbourne the same morning of their inaugural Super W match against the Melbourne Rebels.
“This occasion about flying in on Saturday morning and play at 4.30 and wake up early in the morning on Sunday and coming back into our camp base, it’s a new experience altogether and we’re not gonna put that as an excuse,” Seruvakula said.
“We just have to focus on the game, what we’re going to do to have a good result.”
The Fijiana Drua who are based at Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast have to travel about 1700 kilometres southwest to Melbourne to play the Rebels at the Endeavor Hills Rugby Club ground on Saturday.
“It’s gonna be new to us, it’s a big experience for us, like I said before, it took us nearly two years before we played a rugby match against the Queensland Reds two weeks ago,” Seruvakula said.
“It’s a big step and one we’ve been preparing for three years,” Seruvakula said.
“We need this competition going into the World Cup, so we’re very grateful.
“Training in a professional environment, it’s what’s needed to play at a standard above you.
“And it’s like a trial at the same time; the coaches can clearly pick players for the World Cup.”
Seruvakula said an extended Fijiana squad was made up of the Fijiana Drua and other squad members training in Fiji who could be replacements if needed for the Super W.
The full extended squad would all be considered for the final squad for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand from October to November, 2022.
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