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RNZ News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Five takeaways from Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika round 12 performances
Moana Pasifika players celebrate after beating the Highlanders. Photo: Martin Hunter/ActionPress The Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika recorded two good wins under different circumstances over the weekend. The Drua kept their winning record against the Queensland Reds intact at the National Stadium in Suva, with a last-minute try by Isikeli Rabitu giving them a 36-33 win. However, that win may have come a little too late for the Fijians, who still sit at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standing. In Dunedin on Sunday, Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika were too strong and clinical for the Highlanders, upsetting them in a 34-29 victory. It was the team's first-ever win over the Highlanders in the competition, and one that pushed them into the top six. Both teams showed a lot of fight in registering their respective wins, coming from behind to defeat their opponents. Here are five lessons we can learn from the teams' performances. Rugby is an 80-minute game, and anything can happen until the final whistle. The saying "It ain't over until it's over" proved true for both teams. In Suva, the Reds had taken the lead going into the final minute of the game. And as the seconds ticked away, it looked as if the Drua were on their way to claiming a comeback win, their forward pack taking the ball up, keeping it tight. However, it almost ended for them when Reds' Fijian heritage player Seru Uru claimed the ball in what looked like a turn-over win. But Uru spilled the ball forward straight into Rabitu's hands, and the replacement utility crashed his way through to clinch the winning try. Captain Mesake Doge pointed to the team's fighting spirit and keeping in the fight up to that winning second. In Dunedin, the same could be said of Moana Pasifika. Replacement halfback Meilani Matavao charged down a clearing kick close to the Highlanders' try line, as the hosts had led on the scoreboard in the last four minutes of the game. Matavao's try proved to be the winner in the end for the visitors. Savea told the post-match conference he was happy with the boys' confidence and self-belief throughout, even when they were staring at defeat. Both the Drua and Moana Pasifika showed that winning set pieces is fundamental to forward rugby. In both tightly contested matches, winning the scrums and lineouts proved to be key factors for setting up scoring opportunities and converting those into points. The Reds proved to be a handful in the lineout battles and used their driving mauls as a big weapon in the game. Yet, they also lost some calls and the Drua thrived on those to turn things around. Highlanders lost quite a number of their own throws in the lineouts and feeds in the scrums, as Moana Pasifika slowly gained control in those two critical areas. One major lesson both teams would have taken out is the importance of playing in the right end of the field. That proved true for both teams who managed to secure the winning tries when they were hard on attack close to their opposition lines. A big area that both teams still need to work on is their defence. Both teams need to win their remaining matches to keep their records in good standing going into the final rounds of matches. The Drua have two home matches against the Blues and Western Force. For them there is no other way but win to reassure their fans. Fans have stayed away in the last two home games - against the Waratahs three weekends ago and the Reds on Saturday. To finish off the bottom of the table, the Fijians must keep winning, and their D is a major area that can help them attain that. For Moana Pasifika, it is another area that both Savea and head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga have pointed to. To have a chance of securing their top six spot and advance from there their defence must be on the spot. This area can not be re-emphasised any more that what both team coaches have been doing. As important as upping their Ds (defence), both teams have been guilty of letting their opponents in by giving away penalties. Savea owned up to that in Dunedin, saying it is an area he himself would have to work on before they take on the Blues next weekend. The Drua must ensure they do not keep repeating the same mistakes against the Blues this weekend. It will be exciting to see if the teams are able to take the lessons and improve their own games going forward.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Too weak, Reds lament soft tries in Super loss to Drua
Tate McDermott is challenging his Queensland Reds to man up physically after having their Super Rugby Pacific finals ambitions dented in a thrilling try-fest in Suva. The last-placed Fijian Drua continue to play the competition spoilers, pipping the Reds 36-33 with a last-gasp winner on Saturday. The Reds were a minute away from notching an elusive first win in the Fijian capital, before inspired replacement Isikeli Rabitu surged over with 52 seconds left on the clock. Reds mentor and Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss had billed the match "must win" for his fourth-placed side as they chase a top-three finals berth and all-important home play-off. Little wonder Kiss cut an anxious figure, pacing around the Queensland coaches' box throughout the seesawing encounter. SCENES IN SUVA 🤩#SuperRugbyPacific #DRUvRED — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 3, 2025 In a bruising and sapping physical affair, forwards scored nine of the 11 tries as the lead changed hands seven times at HFC Bank Stadium. In crossing for six tries to five but missing four conversions, the Drua probably deserved victory. But it only came after a frenetic finish in which Reds co-captain Fraser McReight was yellow-carded, leaving his side a man short for the final 90 seconds. That's all the Drua needed to leave the Reds none from three in Suva and now back in a dogfight for a top-six finals berth, ahead of two pivotal derbies away from home against the seventh-placed Waratahs and third-placed Brumbies. "We need to see the improvements leading into those games away. Probably just physically," McDermott said after his milestone 100th Super game ended in disappointment. "We just let them score too easy, too many times. Against a team like the Drua, you give them that much time and space to do whatever they want with the ball, they're going to make you pay. "So we'll take our lessons. It's not all doom and gloom." The Reds made a nice enough start, fullback Jock Campbell racing away to give his side an early lead after Drua winger Taniela Rakuro had opened the scoring in the fifth minute. But, seeking a breather on the short side, flanker Etonia Waqa caught Tim Ryan napping and brushed off the winger to score the softest of tries for the Drua. Again, like after the Drua's two earlier tries through Rakuro and prop Mesake Doge either side of Campbell's effort, the home team couldn't convert. Filling in for injured Wallabies hooker Matt Faesler, Richie Asiata's fifth try in six games dragged the Reds back to within a point, before Fijian-born flanker Seru Uru strolled over down the left wing to earn the visitors a 19-15 halftime lead. The Drua came out all guns blazing after the break, with lock Mesake Vocevoce and flanker Isoa Tuwai charging over to give the hosts a 29-19 advantage. The Reds hit back through finishing forwards Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Max Craig. But Rabitu had the final say to throw a spanner in the Reds' finals hopes, a fortnight after the Drua also downed the Waratahs in Fiji. "Obviously a disappointing day," McDermott said. "We got the bonus point and we're not happy with that, but it's better than nothing."
The Age
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Fijian Drua break Reds hearts in Super Rugby thriller
The last-placed Fijian Drua continue to play Super Rugby Pacific spoilers, upsetting the Queensland Reds 36-33 in a thrilling try-fest in Suva. The Reds were a minute away from notching an elusive first win in the Fijian capital, before inspired replacement Isikeli Rabitu surged over for the winner with 52 seconds left on the clock on Saturday. Reds mentor and Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss had billed the match 'must win' for his fourth-placed side as they chase a top-three finals berth and all-important home play-off. Little wonder Kiss cut an anxious figure, pacing around the Queensland coaches' box throughout the seesawing encounter. In a bruising and sapping physical affair, forwards scored nine of the 11 tries as the lead changed hands seven times at HFC Bank Stadium. In crossing for six tries to five but missing four conversions, the Drua probably deserved victory. But it only came after a frenetic finish in which Reds co-captain Fraser McReight was yellow-carded, leaving his side a man short for the final 90 seconds. That's all the Drua needed to leave the Reds none from three in Suva and now back in a dogfight for a top-six finals berth, ahead of two pivotal derbies away from home against the seventh-placed Waratahs and third-placed Brumbies.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fijian Drua break Reds hearts in Super Rugby thriller
The last-placed Fijian Drua continue to play Super Rugby Pacific spoilers, upsetting the Queensland Reds 36-33 in a thrilling try-fest in Suva. The Reds were a minute away from notching an elusive first win in the Fijian capital, before inspired replacement Isikeli Rabitu surged over for the winner with 52 seconds left on the clock on Saturday. Reds mentor and Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss had billed the match 'must win' for his fourth-placed side as they chase a top-three finals berth and all-important home play-off. Little wonder Kiss cut an anxious figure, pacing around the Queensland coaches' box throughout the seesawing encounter. In a bruising and sapping physical affair, forwards scored nine of the 11 tries as the lead changed hands seven times at HFC Bank Stadium. In crossing for six tries to five but missing four conversions, the Drua probably deserved victory. But it only came after a frenetic finish in which Reds co-captain Fraser McReight was yellow-carded, leaving his side a man short for the final 90 seconds. That's all the Drua needed to leave the Reds none from three in Suva and now back in a dogfight for a top-six finals berth, ahead of two pivotal derbies away from home against the seventh-placed Waratahs and third-placed Brumbies.
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Fijian Drua break Reds hearts in Super Rugby thriller
The last-placed Fijian Drua continue to play Super Rugby Pacific spoilers, upsetting the Queensland Reds 36-33 in a thrilling try-fest in Suva. The Reds were a minute away from notching an elusive first win in the Fijian capital, before inspired replacement Isikeli Rabitu surged over for the winner with 52 seconds left on the clock on Saturday. Reds mentor and Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss had billed the match "must win" for his fourth-placed side as they chase a top-three finals berth and all-important home play-off. Little wonder Kiss cut an anxious figure, pacing around the Queensland coaches' box throughout the seesawing encounter. In a bruising and sapping physical affair, forwards scored nine of the 11 tries as the lead changed hands seven times at HFC Bank Stadium. In crossing for six tries to five but missing four conversions, the Drua probably deserved victory. But it only came after a frenetic finish in which Reds co-captain Fraser McReight was yellow-carded, leaving his side a man short for the final 90 seconds. That's all the Drua needed to leave the Reds none from three in Suva and now back in a dogfight for a top-six finals berth, ahead of two pivotal derbies away from home against the seventh-placed Waratahs and third-placed Brumbies. The Reds made a nice enough start, fullback Jock Campbell racing away to give his side an early lead after Drua winger Taniela Rakuro had opened the scoring in the fifth minute. But, seeking a breather on the short side, flanker Etonia Waqa caught Tim Ryan napping and brushed off the winger to score the softest of tries for the Drua. Again, like after the Drua's two earlier tries through Rakuro and prop Mesake Doge either side of Campbell's effort, the home team couldn't convert. Filling in for injured Wallabies hooker Matt Faesler, Richie Asiata's fifth try in six games dragged the Reds back to within a point, before Fijian-born flanker Seru Uru strolled over down the left wing to earn the visitors a 19-15 halftime lead. The Drua came out all guns blazing after the break, with lock Mesake Vocevoce and flanker Isoa Tuwai charging over to give the hosts a 29-19 advantage. The Reds hit back through finishing forwards Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Max Craig. But Rabitu had the final say to throw a spanner in the Reds' finals hopes, a fortnight after the Drua also downed the Waratahs in Fiji.
