Achi news desk-
Western Force coach Simon Cron is urging his players to embrace the rugby lifestyle in Fiji – don’t try to play like a Fijian team.
The Force secured their first win of the Super Rugby Pacific season last week with an upset 40-31 victory over the Reds in Perth.
They will have another stern test on Sunday when they take on Fijian Drua at Churchill Park in Fiji.
The Drua are unbeaten at home this season, defeating the Crusaders 20-10 in round three, before recording a resounding golden point win over the NSW Waratahs last week.
The entertaining nature of Drua’s play makes rugby beautiful to watch, but Cron doesn’t want his players to get over the top.
“The mistake is trying to play as a Fijian team,” Cron said on Friday from Fiji.
“They are a great offloading team, they play a different type of rugby to us. The mistake is you try to play like them.
“For us, it’s about sticking to our structures and processes and how we want to play, and controlling the game that way.”
Force players have been regularly stopped for photos by fans in Fiji this week – a different experience to what they get in Perth’s AFL-dominated environment.
“I would say a lot of them are recognized here (in Fiji), and people stop them on the street a lot, or in the cafe or the hotel for pictures,” said Cron.
“There’s a huge rugby following here.
“We’ve got a rugby community in Perth, it’s probably spread across the state.
“Whereas here, it’s one area. Everyone loves rugby, every person in the street loves their rugby. It’s more condensed.”
The crowd on Sunday will represent a party-like atmosphere, and Cron wants his players to soak it up.
“I don’t think it’s scary. I think you should embrace it,” she said.
“It’s a great crowd you want to play in front of. They’re excited, they’re passionate, they’re amazing people.
“And the fact that they are so excited about the game, we should take energy from that as well.”
The Force will be without captain Jeremy Williams (calf) and back-rower Will Harris (concussion).
But former Wallabies lock Sam Carter will make his Police debut off the bench after being signed by the Perth franchise during the week.
“With Jeremy Williams and Will Harris both having issues, it was actually a little quicker than we thought Carter had to be used,” Cron said.
“What he has is experience, calm head, great set operator.
“He’s ready to rumble.”
