Swire Shipping Fijian Drua winger Manasa Mataele is optimistic about the team’s recent performance, despite facing another defeat during their away match. In what marked his 60th Shop N Save Super Rugby appearance and just his second game for the Drua, Mataele noted significant improvements, particularly in their start compared to previous games.
The Drua aimed to address their slow start, a point of emphasis leading into the match. “Yes, definitely. That’s one thing we talked about, especially our fast start in the first half. Last week we didn’t start well. We tried to play catch-up rugby, but it just wasn’t good enough. I guess it was a big improvement, but vice versa, we didn’t finish strong. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we’ll regroup and go again next week,” Mataele said.
He highlighted that territorial control played a crucial role in their struggles during the second half. By spending too much time on their side of the field, the Drua allowed the Waratahs to build pressure and capitalize on their mistakes. “I think for us it was playing territory, playing in the right areas of the field. We played too much in our half, which gave the Waratahs attacking opportunities. We did that well in the first half, but in the second half we pushed our luck a bit too much,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Mataele demonstrated his attacking abilities and expressed gratitude for the strong support from Drua fans who traveled for the game. With a focus on building from their improved performance, the Drua aim to convert their efforts into a positive outcome when they face the Hurricanes in Lautoka on Saturday. As they prepare for the upcoming match, the team remains determined to harness their progress and elevate their game.