@Canes4life reminds me of some of the club grounds I played on in the 80s
Even those grounds have been improved on over the years
Drua
Match thread
Hurricanes
Just finished watching.
Was saying to Mrs Boo at 20 mins that the weather was the Drua's 16th player, and their best defender.
One of those games where the better team just couldn't get far enough away, kept leaving the door open and started becoming not the better team with panic ensuing.
Typical Drua game really.
Skills dealing with those conditions lacking.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Barrett is fucking hopeless. Hasn’t changed since he left to Ireland. I said it before he left, he’s not a 12s arsehole. Barely ever gets over the advantage line.
If Razor was still the coach I'd say he'd be one of the first names picked midyear.
Lets hope Tupaea continues to play well.
@MN5 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Barrett is fucking hopeless. Hasn’t changed since he left to Ireland. I said it before he left, he’s not a 12s arsehole. Barely ever gets over the advantage line.
If Razor was still the coach I'd say he'd be one of the first names picked midyear.
Let’s hope Tupaea continues to play well.
Barrett’s are the biggest problem for the ABs
@Fale009 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
All I can say is - at least the Canes have shown us who they will be early in the year. Until their forwards show they can muscle the fuck up in close quarters, we don't have any chance against the big dogs in the comp.
But but but we look so good on a dry track and we are meant to be a lock for the championship this year… 
100% agree with you.
@Canes4life Hopefully they can surprise us but I won't be holding my breath. Idk why we always seem to employ a coach whose selections are cooked. There are a fair few in that 23 that shouldn't see selection again unless there are injuries. If I have to see Enari in the 21 jersey all year I'm gonna smash my TV by round 7.
@Fale009 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life Hopefully they can surprise us but I won't be holding my breath. Idk why we always seem to employ a coach whose selections are cooked. There are a fair few in that 23 that shouldn't see selection again unless there are injuries. If I have to see Enari in the 21 jersey all year I'm gonna smash my TV by round 7.
Rakete-Stones, Enari, Shields, Punivai and IWL all not upto it.
Hopefully Kirifi comes back next week. Need his no nonsense leadership in that pack.
@Canes4life Those were the exact names I had written but decided to delete. Hopefully the plan is for Jordie to move to fullback and Higgins come in at 12 when he's ready. I would like to see Will Cole get a run at some point provided he's progressing well in the development team. Really rated him coming through the 20s setup.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can we bin Fiji as a playing destination. Absolute bullshit conditions on a not fit for purpose field.
Come on, be fair there had been heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours that would have challenged any field. Even as I type this it is the heaviest rain there has been in the last 40 hours with it fair bucketing down accompanied with lightening flashes and thunder. Probably heavy enough to cause some injuries to anyone caught out in it.
What's more the conditions were the same for both teams and there is no guarantee that the result would have been any different had it been a bone dry field with mid to late 20s temperature and very low humidity.
Using you logic the Caketin should be banned because of the swirling of the wind attributable the stadium's design.
Was a frustrating watch, we reverted back to some terrible habits and some fucking dumb footy. I can understand the kicking, as its not the sort of game you want to play with the ball in hand if you can avoid it - but the repeated chips in their 22 were baffling - when you see how the Drua play it they knew how to handle the conditions, all contributes to being their fortress.
IWL, Punivai and Enari do my head in, but seem to be Laidlaws little favourites and i just dont understand it. Otherwise, im not sure theres much you can take from that game as it looked like playing under 10s at Ian Galloway park in the middle of winter. Other than the leaders needed to step up more - Jordie and Proctor in the backs especially, and manage the game better
Ball was clearly a bar of soap, so not great to see the Canes try intricate training-ground plays while chasing the game. Although to be fair they seemed to lose it just as often carrying into contact.
Somehow it didn't end up a huge issue this game, but they always seem a whole lot slower to the breakdown than their opposition. Tackled Canes players are unprotected for half a second, while tackled Drua players have a couple of blokes clearing out before the carrier hits the ground. Weird tactic.
@Higgins said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can we bin Fiji as a playing destination. Absolute bullshit conditions on a not fit for purpose field.
Come on, be fair there had been heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours that would have challenged any field. Even as I type this it is the heaviest rain there has been in the last 40 hours with it fair bucketing down accompanied with lightening flashes and thunder. Probably heavy enough to cause some injuries to anyone caught out in it.
What's more the conditions were the same for both teams and there is no guarantee that the result would have been any different had it been a bone dry field with mid to late 20s temperature and very low humidity.
Using you logic the Caketin should be banned because of the swirling of the wind attributable the stadium's design.
The playing surface was not up to standard. You’re only running the risk of injuring people playing in below par grounds like that. It’s not good enough, and they need to get better draining facilities in place. I see better playing surfaces in club rugby. This is Super Rugby we are talking about, not amateur rugby.
The weather is the weather, that’s fine but you can’t have guys running through puddles like that at this level. It’s crazy.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Higgins said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can we bin Fiji as a playing destination. Absolute bullshit conditions on a not fit for purpose field.
Come on, be fair there had been heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours that would have challenged any field. Even as I type this it is the heaviest rain there has been in the last 40 hours with it fair bucketing down accompanied with lightening flashes and thunder. Probably heavy enough to cause some injuries to anyone caught out in it.
What's more the conditions were the same for both teams and there is no guarantee that the result would have been any different had it been a bone dry field with mid to late 20s temperature and very low humidity.
Using you logic the Caketin should be banned because of the swirling of the wind attributable the stadium's design.
The playing surface was not up to standard. You’re only running the risk of injuring people playing in below par grounds like that. It’s not good enough, and they need to get better draining facilities in place. I see better playing surfaces in club rugby. This is Super Rugby we are talking about, not amateur rugby.
The weather is the weather, that’s fine but you can’t have guys running through puddles like that at this level. It’s crazy.
two years ago the Crusaders lost in the exact same conditions at the same ground and the humidity was higher it is always a nightmare playing there Havilli and Taylor both were injured and out for a few weeks,nothing changes there.
Some posters here appear to be overlooking the fact that the West of Fiji has been subject to spells of very heavy rain for the last couple of days which would make even the best of grounds tricky to play on. Obviously the ground is not tile drained and sand based nor contoured perfectly but there is a ditch on the embankment side of the park so with the gradient they do their best they can to direct runoff rainwater that way but with odd patches where water did pool. If the Lautoka City Council had unlimited funds then they might be able to bring the ground up to Twickenham standard. They don't so they do the best they can with what they have available.
As an aside the curtainraiser was called off very early to prevent damage to the pitch. There was not much wrong with the ground when it got underway but the heavier rain that started about the time it got underway soon changed things necessitating the abandonment of that match. Match officials did they best they could with the hand they got dealt. Had the rain stayed away the ground would have been ok
Not sure what the injury toll from yesterday was but using the example of NZ teams there are an awful lot of injuries sustained whilst training using supposed pristine ground conditions so they can happen anywhere regardless of underfoot conditions. Ditto injuries sustained during matches regardless of what players dig their sprigs into. Looking at you the ground the Rebels used in Melbourne and Suncorp also has shifty conditions from memory. It is not unusual to see scrums having to be moved slightly because the turf has been ripped up.Take away the rain then the surface is ok.
I presume the referee has the power to deem the paying surface usafe to use and call for an abandonment. The match officials were taking a good close look at it whilst doing their warmups and declined to take up that option. Whether pressure was exerted on them from Super Rugby Officials or TV rights holders to play the match is not known to me.
As an aside if the game was scheduled for today there would be grave doubts of the game even getting started given the torrential rain, thunder and sheet lightning and semi cyclonic wind powering through in cycles still continuing.
@mikey07 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Anyone else think players like Tosi could’ve made a difference.
It's a crime that they left quality players out of the squad. We didn't respect the Drua at home
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Higgins said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can we bin Fiji as a playing destination. Absolute bullshit conditions on a not fit for purpose field.
Come on, be fair there had been heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours that would have challenged any field. Even as I type this it is the heaviest rain there has been in the last 40 hours with it fair bucketing down accompanied with lightening flashes and thunder. Probably heavy enough to cause some injuries to anyone caught out in it.
What's more the conditions were the same for both teams and there is no guarantee that the result would have been any different had it been a bone dry field with mid to late 20s temperature and very low humidity.
Using you logic the Caketin should be banned because of the swirling of the wind attributable the stadium's design.
The playing surface was not up to standard. You’re only running the risk of injuring people playing in below par grounds like that. It’s not good enough, and they need to get better draining facilities in place. I see better playing surfaces in club rugby. This is Super Rugby we are talking about, not amateur rugby.
The weather is the weather, that’s fine but you can’t have guys running through puddles like that at this level. It’s crazy.
it's the tropics in summer mate, get over it
@Higgins Clearly you are closer to the scene of the crime than most but the cynic in me thinks the Drua were quite happy to schedule a curtain raiser on a ground that was forecast to receive heavy rain prior, during and after the game. Reminds me of when the Welsh used to leave the roof open at their stadium for the week prior to an AB test match when rain was forecast. Who let the curtain raiser even start, and since when are their ever curtain raisers prior to a Super game? Shouldn't have been allowed to go ahead.
@SecFid said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Higgins Clearly you are closer to the scene of the crime than most but the cynic in me thinks the Drua were quite happy to schedule a curtain raiser on a ground that was forecast to receive heavy rain prior, during and after the game. Reminds me of when the Welsh used to leave the roof open at their stadium for the week prior to an AB test match when rain was forecast. Who let the curtain raiser even start, and since when are their ever curtain raisers prior to a Super game? Shouldn't have been allowed to go ahead.
Wasn't the curtain raiser cancelled?
@SecFid said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Higgins Clearly you are closer to the scene of the crime than most but the cynic in me thinks the Drua were quite happy to schedule a curtain raiser on a ground that was forecast to receive heavy rain prior, during and after the game. Reminds me of when the Welsh used to leave the roof open at their stadium for the week prior to an AB test match when rain was forecast. Who let the curtain raiser even start, and since when are their ever curtain raisers prior to a Super game? Shouldn't have been allowed to go ahead.
FYI, I've played in a few curtain raisers to SR games (which shows the quality isn't always all that) and they're organized a long time beforehand.
Quibble with the fact they decided to go ahead with it, but at least they stopped.
@Nepia said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
The irony of Canes fans whining about the weather conditions at other grounds.
It's not the weather conditions, it's the condition of the pitch. Not having any sort of draining on a ground like that is amateur as fuck.
For a professional level competition at the standard of Super Rugby, it's pathetic. Super Rugby should be supporting them to up their facilities if they want them to host games.
Meh, we've all played on pitches like that before, that's when you have to adjust tactics, tighten the fuck up, and grind the other team into the mud. Drua did that better than us and deserved to win. If we can't win in all conditions we are not a serious title contender.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Nepia said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
The irony of Canes fans whining about the weather conditions at other grounds.
It's not the weather conditions, it's the condition of the pitch. Not having any sort of draining on a ground like that is amateur as fuck.
For a professional level competition at the standard of Super Rugby, it's pathetic. Super Rugby should be supporting them to up their facilities if they want them to host games.
have a sook fluffybunny
the only long term knee injury the Canes have had this year happened on what ground again?
@mariner4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Nepia said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
The irony of Canes fans whining about the weather conditions at other grounds.
It's not the weather conditions, it's the condition of the pitch. Not having any sort of draining on a ground like that is amateur as fuck.
For a professional level competition at the standard of Super Rugby, it's pathetic. Super Rugby should be supporting them to up their facilities if they want them to host games.
have a sook fluffybunny
the only long term knee injury the Canes have had this year happened on what ground again?
Give me a break, you'd be harping on about it if the NRL or AFL supplied those sort of pitches yah fluffybunny.
i would? interesting.
do you have any idea what tropical monsoon rains look like? Barlow park is international standard and i nearly drowned on the fucking thing one preseason.
you're sooking because the Canes lost and you've found a nice convenient excuse. I also love the suggestion that the Drua wanted conditions that make handling and running harder.
@mariner4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
i would? interesting.
do you have any idea what tropical monsoon rains look like? Barlow park is international standard and i nearly drowned on the fucking thing one preseason.
you're sooking because the Canes lost and you've found a nice convenient excuse. I also love the suggestion that the Drua wanted conditions that make handling and running harder.
Tropical weather is unavoidable in Fiji, I get that, but a professional stadium should be engineered to handle those conditions. The way the pitch at Churchill Park deteriorated during that match on Saturday demonstrates limitations in drainage and surface management - this is where I think Super Rugby needs to support the Drua if they see them as a legitimate long-term Super side.
Of course, my knee jerk reaction to the game was to have a sook, but I've been at games where it's rained just as hard as what it did in Fiji on Saturday and the surface still wasn't the dominant factor in the outcome of the game.
By the way, the Canes were absolutely garbage and deserved to lose, I'm not debating that. And yes, I've experienced monsoon conditions plenty of times traveling Asia and the Pacific.
@mariner4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Nepia said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
The irony of Canes fans whining about the weather conditions at other grounds.
It's not the weather conditions, it's the condition of the pitch. Not having any sort of draining on a ground like that is amateur as fuck.
For a professional level competition at the standard of Super Rugby, it's pathetic. Super Rugby should be supporting them to up their facilities if they want them to host games.
have a sook fluffybunny
the only long term knee injury the Canes have had this year happened on what ground again?
The conditions prevented the Drua playing with the full free flowing panache we come to expect from them at home. Also take away they normal overpowering humidity that sees you break out in a massive sweat doing just the simple art of taking a deep breath also denied them of the big advantage it brings.
Had it been normal type conditions the visitors could well have been in for a real flogging, but then that would be used to try to show "unfairness" reasons in an attempt to explain away a loss.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
And yes, I've experienced monsoon conditions plenty of times traveling Asia and the Pacific.
Good euphemism for lad weekends in Phuket.