Entertaining contest as Drua and Pasifika Give it everything
It was Pacific Islands rugby at its best at Mt Smart Stadium yesterday afternoon, and it was fittingly decided by a dazzling try at the death as the Fijian Drua outlasted Moana Pasifika in a furiously entertaining slugfest.
There were 11 tries all told in a splendid, fast-paced encounter, with the Drua’s sixth score, in the 77th minute to replacement wing Taniela Rakuro, deciding a contest, 36-34, that really could have gone either way. It wasn’t perfect rugby – too many errors and infringements for that – but it was a delight to watch as both teams threw everything into it and played very much to their strengths.
For Aaron Mauger’s Moana side, that was very much up front, with the home side dominating the forward armwrestle, and getting a brace of tries from prop Abraham Pole and another from fellow frontrower Chris Apoua. They also thrived with some outstanding power running from centre Levi Aumua and wing Timoci Tavatavanawai.
But the Drua were never out of the contest with their explosiveness and strikepower out wide, and they enjoyed strong performances from skipper and hooker Tevita Ikanivere, loose forwards Joseva Tamani and Kitione Salawa and backline stars Iosefo Masi, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Selestino Ravutaumada.
It was hard to believe that these were the bottom two teams of 2022, such was the quality of the contest and the array of skills on show. On this, you will take either lightly this year at your peril.
Mauger’s men got off to an explosive start, crossing for a try apiece to starting props Pole and Apoua inside the first 10 minutes for the early 12-0 lead.
The action continued to come thick and fast. The Drua got on the board at the end of the opening quarter when skipper Tevita Ikanivere drove over after a series of tapped penalties, and loose forward Mike Curry replied for the home side soon after to get them out to 19-5.
The Drua then struck twice to punish their hosts for a yellow card to lock Sam Slade, Joseva Tomani (off a quick tap) and Olympic sevens gold medallist Masicrossing to level the scores at 19-19 in the shadow of the break.
Moana, though, were not done, second five Danny Toala dancing 30-odd metres down the right touchline for a seven-pointer that gave the home side the 26-19 halftime lead.
The contest continued back and forth over the second 40, Ikanivere’s early second score
answered by Pole’s, before Masi completed his brace to level at 31-31. Skipper Christian Lealiifano put Moana back in front with the only penalty shot of the match before the Drua produced the razzle-dazzle to clinch the victory with Rakuro’s try.
Big moment
Without doubt the 77th-minute try to replacement wing Rakuro that gave the Drua the lead for the first time in the game. It featured some fabulous open-field running and was a deserved matchwinner.
Match rating
8/10: What was not to love. Sure there were a few too many penalties and handling errors. But for a round one contest between the bottom two sides of ’22, this was a highly entertaining, surging contest.
MVP
Masi has a brilliant debut for the Drua, bagging a double.
The big picture
The fast-paced game that the new law variations encourage suits both of these teams to a tee.