Waratahs back-rower Langi Gleeson, one of the four players in the side with Fijian heritage, has warned teammates they’ll be entering a cauldron at Churchill Park in Lautoka today.
Gleeson and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will start against the Fijian Drua in Round 5 of the Super Rugby Pacific.
“It’s almost like it’s a fortress,” Gleeson said before Friday’s captain’s run.
“It’s always tough to verse the Drua, especially in their home town. Their crowd certainly gets behind them and it’s hard to shut them down.
“Especially with the heat and humidity, with the crowd as well, I’m sure we’ll remember this game for the rest of our careers.
“But we’ll try and do a job on them this Saturday.”
The Waratahs are wary of Drua coach and former Wallabies assistant Mick Byrne’s claim that his players are nearing peak fitness already this season.
Despite their 1-3 record, the Drua outscored the Blues – last-start winners over the Waratahs – in the second half, and also Moana Pasifika, as well as keeping the Crusaders to zero after the interval.
“My most physical games have been against the Drua,” Gleeson said.
“A lot of sore bodies for like two weeks after playing the Drua so it’s just about getting in those contacts and wrapping the ball.”
Unbeaten in four meetings with the Drua, the Tahs are coming off consecutive two-point home defeats to the Highlanders and Blues.
But the narrow losses have buoyed Darren Coleman’s troops rather than deflated them.
“It gives us a lot of confidence to match those teams, as opposed to last year; we wouldn’t even get close to them,” Gleeson said.
“We’re improving every week and there’s a lot to learn from that game against the Blues.”
In a double-header treat for fans, the Waratahs women also will face the defending champion Fijian Drua in a rematch of last year’s semifinal at 3.35pm following the clash between the men’s teams at 1.05pm.
