The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua faced a tough start to their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season, falling to Moana Pasifika with a final score of 40–26 at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The match saw Moana Pasifika seize an early advantage, scoring just five minutes in when number eight Semisi Ta’eiloa powered through to give them a 7–0 lead.
The visitors continued their aggressive onslaught, putting the Drua on the back foot and extending their lead to 14–0 shortly after the restart. A well-executed lineout play resulted in flanker Jonathan Taunateine crossing the line, pushing the score to 21–0 in Moana’s favor.
The Drua finally responded with a breakthrough as Tuidraki Samusamuvodre dived over for a try, narrowing the gap to 21–7. However, the momentum shifted again as the Drua’s Mesake Vocevoce received a yellow card, allowing Moana to capitalize with Tevita Ofa scoring shortly thereafter, stretching their lead to 28–7.
As the first half drew to a close, the Drua mounted a comeback, with Kitione Salawa finishing a well-crafted play to score. The teams went into halftime with Moana leading 28–12.
Post halftime, Moana wasted no time in extending their lead, with captain Miracle Fai’ilagi scoring to push the score to 33–12. The Drua, unfazed, responded with a spectacular passing move that sent Ilaisa Droasese over for a try, cutting the deficit to 33–19.
Droasese continued his impressive performance with a crucial 40–20 kick, which set up co-captain Temo Mayanavanua to score under the posts, bringing the score to 33–26. Despite the Drua’s relentless efforts and pressure in the final moments, they could not find the equalizer as Moana maintained their hold on the game.
Looking ahead, the Drua will face off against the Waratahs in Sydney next Friday at 8.35pm, with the match available for live viewing on FBC Sports. While the season opener did not go as planned for the Drua, the potential for growth and improvement remains strong as they prepare for their upcoming challenges.
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