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Fijian Drua claim first Super Rugby Pacific victory
By AAP
Fijian Drua have trampled the Melbourne Rebels' season further into the ground, coming from behind to claim their first Super Rugby Pacific victory.
The newcomers trailed 14-0 and were a man down thanks to a yellow card before turning it on at Sunshine Coast Stadium in an historic 31-26 win.
Missing 14 men through injury and suspension, it was the biggest blow yet in a horror 0-3 start for Kevin Foote's Rebels.
The Drua made the most of it, overpowering the visitors and then adding some flair with three long-range tries either side of halftime.
Melbourne's Ray Nu'u scored their fourth try on the buzzer, but four second-half penalties to replacement five-eighth Teti Tela took the Drua to safety.
Young Tonumaipea had a double for the Rebels but they were unable to exploit the Drua's shaky lineout, dropping too much ball and falling off tackles as the Fijians ran hard.
Onisi Ratave scored his side's first after Caleb Munz's chip kick from broken pl ay, before Vilive Miramira streaked away from a contest for a match-turning try.
Their confidence soared after that and a quick tap finally paid off for Peni Matawalu, who broke the line then offloaded for Apisalome Vota to score.
A fumble let Tonumaipea in for a second but the Drua kept their cool, three penalties inside kicking distance giving them breathing space.
"They played like a 15s team - it wasn't sevens stuff," former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said.
"From the 35th to 79th minute they dominated that game.
"Look at the Kings, Cheetahs, Rebels, Force, Sunwolves; any team that's entered, nobody's done it as well as the Drua have."
The win came with a majority of the squad in just their third Super Rugby game, and after two lop-sided losses to the NSW Waratahs and Brumbies for the Lennox Heads-based outfit.
And they had to go the long way to even get to their relocated home game on the Sunshine Coast after floods forced them out of Suncor p Stadium.
"Considering the impact that Fijian players have had on Australian rugby ... I don't think w e've sort of conceptualised how important that is for the game over there and for here," former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said on Stan Sport.
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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