Rebels need Drua scalp to continue on Super finals path

Fri, Mar 31, 2023, 7:33 AM
Melissa Woods - AAP
by Melissa Woods - AAP
Melbourne Rebels fullback Joe Pincus speaks to the media in Melbourne ahead of the Rebels Round 6 clash against the Fiji Drua.

Melbourne coach Kevin Foote has challenged the Rebels to step up against Fijian Drua if they want to be a Super Rugby Pacific force this season.

The Rebels arrived in Suva high on confidence after a gritty win over Queensland Reds last round.

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But having watched competition heavyweights the Crusaders go down to the Drua in Fiji, Foote knows it will be a tough outing for his troops on Saturday.

After already dropping three games from five rounds, he said that every game was vital to ensure a maiden finals appearance.

He said he'd taken lessons from the Crusaders game, which the Drua won with a penalty after the final siren.

"We're desperate to play finals so all games are going to be important for us," Foote said.

"The growth in the group is going away from home now and putting in a good performance.

"Going to Fiji is a challenge in itself and we saw the Crusaders went down to them a couple of weeks ago.

"We will have a really clear game plan on how we want to go and attack against them."

The Rebels have Wallabies backs Reece Hodge and Andrew Kellaway returning from injury while they will rely on their big bench for a late impact, something which helped them home against the Reds.

The Drua have ex-Melbourne halfback Frank Lomani in their line-up.

Melbourne played a trial game in Fiji in January, with an undermanned side falling to a 24-0 defeat.

Foote said his message to his players would be to "control the controllables."

"Certain aspects such as the weather and the crowd we can't control so we really need to focus on ourselves," he said.

"We want to continue to play fast and fearless style of rugby but our fundamentals need to be really good.

"Our work on the ground, our breakdown work, set piece, because if we're loose against the Drua we will bring the crowd into it and Frankie (Lomani) will take a quick tap and punish you." 

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