The NSW Waratahs are poised to resume their Super Rugby Pacific campaign on Friday night when they play Round 3 against the Fijian Drua in a blockbuster double header that will also feature the Super W season opener.
For Super Rugby Pacific, Round 3 is also 'Culture Round' when the competition unites to celebrate the diverse cultures connected by the game of rugby.
It is also the NSW Waratahs' first competition game since their Round 1 victory at home over the Highlanders. Round 2 was a bye week for the side.
But before facing the Fijian Drua clash at Allianz Stadium at Moore Parke, the NSW Waratahs Women also play the Fijiana Drua in their Round 1 game.
At their training facility in nearby Daceyville on Monday, it was clear that both NSW Waratahs teams are bracing themselves for an entertaining but potentially dangerous night, as members of both sides spoke of their games.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar said his side will not underestimate the Fijian Drua whose season so far includes two nail-biting defeats - a 36-32 loss to the ACT Brumbies at home in Round 1 and a 38-34 loss to the Hurricanes in Round 2.
“You need to make sure you've got your error count down nice and low, make sure you tackle well,” McKellar said of playing the Drua.
“They'll hurt you off turnover. [Their] attack is very dangerous. We all know how Fiji plays ... their offload, and [they are] very good on transition.
“We need to be clinical. We're going to make errors. There's no doubt. We just need to shut them down quickly.”
McKellar believes the Fijian Drua have left a major imprint in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
“They just love the game, don't they? The Fijian people love the game,” McKellar said.
“Teams that go up there … big crowds, incredibly welcoming and respectful, and then when boys get on the field, it's eighty minutes of hard work against quality rugby players.
“I think they've been great for the competition. It's obviously had a massive impact on [Fiji] on the international stage as well.
“They've got a world-class training facility out there now that allows them to prepare at the right level and they are either a dangerous outfit.”
NSW Waratahs Centre Lalakai Foketi concurred with McKellar, adding that reviews of the Fijian Drua’s first two games this week confirmed their danger.
“They're an exciting team. Give them turnover ball and they can score points from anywhere. So, that's definitely something we've looked at,” Foketi said.
“They've got a lot of international players, and they're on the big stage, so to bring [them] to Super Rugby is great to see.
“For us, it's about trying to control the game and put them in areas of the field that we want to because they're an exciting team and they're big.
“It's going to be a tough ask, but in the first couple rounds that they've showed they're in it to the last minute.
“For us, it is how can we control the game as best we can?
"We know we're not going to do that for the full eighty minutes and the momentum is going to change.
“But I guess, how fast can we react to those [moments are what will matter].”
NSW Waratahs Women’s star Maya Stewart said the defending Super W Champions and five times title winners will start the season fitter than ever.
Their pre-season has included a two-game tour of New Zealand against the Hurricanes and Blues, another against the ACT Brumbies in Campbelltown on 15 February and last Saturday’s game against the Western Force in Perth.
In the NSW Waratahs Women’s tour, they lost to the Hurricanes 24-41, but drew with the Blues 36-36. Against the ACT Brumbies, they won 22-19.
In last Saturday’s game in Perth, they beat the Western Force 21-19.
Asked what area of the game they have focused on, Stewart said: “Definitely work rate. We've been working hard throughout the preseason.
"You've seen quite a few of our younger girls closing out those games.
"Our work rate coming into round one … Fiji, they have a phenomenal ability to work that offload game and turn us around.
Stewart said the NSW Waratahs Women benefited from the New Zealand tour.
“We jumped off the plane and played the Hurricanes first, and that was a tough one for us. Few learnings there," she said.
"Our physical side of the game just wasn't quite there. [in that game.]
“[We] had a week of training, and were able to take on the Blues, who were defending Super Rugby Aupiki champions which was an awesome game.”
At Allianz Stadium, 28 February 2025
NSW Waratahs Women v Fijiana Drua
Kick-off: 5:05pm
Super Rugby Pacific Round 3
Kick-off: 7.30pm
