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'Mick the Kick' on hand to help Drua usher in new dawn for Fijian rugby

Wallabies skills coach Mick Byrne

Fijians in even the most remote villages will find their way to a telecast of Friday’s historic Super Rugby Pacific opener, where a former VFL premiership ruckman will be calling the shots.

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Mick Byrne couldn’t help but reflect on the latest and boldest chapter of his winding career when landing in Sydney on Thursday, more than 30 years after playing his final game for the Swans.

Since then, ‘Mick the Kick’ has established himself as one of rugby’s go-to kicking coaches, taking his talents from Scotland to the All Blacks and then the Wallabies.

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Who will be crowned champions at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season?

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    Who will be crowned champions at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season?

    The Fijian Drua’s arrival in the new-look Super Rugby Pacific represents the 1983 Hawthorn premiership-winner with his first head-coaching role though.

    “I’m good but I’m pretty excited and trying to keep a lid on the excitement,” he said.

    “Arriving at the airport in Sydney where I grew up, where I was born. It’s a pretty special occasion, so I’ll enjoy that then focus on the job at hand.

    “Being in Lennox keeps us away from the hype around the game, but as it draws near and people start to look forward to the game there’s an element of ‘Get ready for it’.”

    Based in Lennox Head on the NSW north coast, Byrne’s efforts on and off the field will be a subject of great fascination back in Fiji, where for years the country’s best talent has been picked off by rival top-tier nations.

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    A successful season for the Drua and fellow newcomers Moana Pacifika, based in New Zealand, could flip the rugby landscape in the region on its head.

    Efforts have been made to ensure those in even the most remote Fijian villages can watch Friday’s clash with the NSW Waratahs, while Byrne said they hoped to bring families of the players together to watch games throughout the season.

    “It’s a difficult time, we know. You’ve let husbands and brothers and sons leave home and come to join us here,” he said.

    “We’re massively grateful you’ve done that and it means a lot to all of us.

    “We know you’re missing them, but hopefully being able to watch them tomorrow night brings a little bit of family feeling back into the villages.”

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    – Murray Wenzel

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    J
    JW 1 hour ago
    Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

    LOL angry at what? You trying to put words into peoples mouths with your wild theories? No I’m well used to that by now mate.

    ou should stop making silly comments like ‘a very small set of examples’ if you don’t want ppl to call you out and start taking you seriously!

    I have no idea what you’re talking about.

    FYI he’s started at 10 53 times since 2020/21 in all comps.

    Yes, as I’ve said. 38 of those times were (SR) after Mo’unga left for Japan, and possibly even the 8 times for Waikato (even though on a ‘sabbatical’ he was still made to play NPC after returning from Japan for some reason) were because NZR told him he had to switch because Richie was leaving.


    I can’t really make sense of what you’re trying to argue but all I can think I said was;

    He’s only got a very small set of examples so understandable people don’t immediately adjust to him as the best in the world

    I’m referring to international fans, who are only really going to watch the All Blacks, so yes, it’s them trying to compare his games last year to what they imagine he played like as a fullback for so long. Outside that, he’s played say now 45 odd times since he made the switch, and only 30 odd (thanks to a full SR season there) of the past 150 before that, you’re idea that it makes him a first five and therefor not still learning, is “entirely false”


    If you want people to start taking you seriously Nick you really need to up your debating game! No seriously though I know I like to avoid explaining things for dummies but you very rarely have the right take on any of my theories, you’ve just got you’re own angle that takes over, so don’t expect to be able to debate much (as it will be by yourself basically lol). I suspect it’s something to do with needing to keep a lot of things in your mind for your articles that it’s probably impossible for you to just listen and not introduce outside noise, so no biggie.

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    J
    Jacob Brown 1 hour ago
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