Fijian Drua Sports Benches
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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds Game in Round 15 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Hats off to Fijian Drua’s all-rounder Frank Lamani who showed that he’s more than just a half-back tonight in the starting No.9 shirt. He can communicate well every time his Drua team have the ball on hand & follow his lead in order to get the job done in attack, while he can fill-in well as conversion kicker too which is a bonus particularly during the 2nd 40. It just goes to show he has an excellent mindset as well as pace & power that demonstrates his all-round natural game & leadership too. Thanks to the Reds weaknesses through the ill-discipline, he never stopped working hard as he’s can’t wait to challenge the Crusaders next Saturday in hoping to upset them once again for a semis spot.

There’s another Drua player to get behind en route to Christchurch in none other than Joseva Tamani on the blindside back row at No.6. He too has been destructive with his all-round input just like F. Lomani except the height of course where Joseva is much taller than him, such as the physicality, vision & defensive contribution. All of these attributes he’s got helped Drua put themselves on the front foot, especially right from the beginning. Then his side went full on after the half-time break & Joseva has been active as ever since with one TRY assist to Mesake Doge & a TRY himself to finish such an easy game at home with pace. 

And Angus Blyth rounds out as the top Reds player of this match playing on the second row at No.5. He played a huge role in the Reds’ two tries earlier on where Angus provides a combination of such brilliant strength & towering height too that helped his side get past Drua in its tracks. Plus, he can be a sound defender too on occasions as well, having played about just over 50 Super Rugby games for them since 2018. Great mind, physicality &  input that makes him an important player for his team. It’s not just his day today when lots of ill-discipline & lack of 2nd half ball chances bite back to haunt the Reds, as it remains to see if the Reds will play in the Quarter-Final v Chiefs next Saturday. After the Western Force’s loss v Chiefs, Reds will now face them again but will need to show some team spirit in the hope of another upset like they did a few weeks ago.

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Fijian Drua looks to upset Crusaders once again this time in Christchurch for a semi-final spot after a huge 41-17 win v Reds

by Sports Benches

It was a tight opening 40 by both Fijian Drua & Queensland Reds where Drua got themselves ahead early, while Reds responded well 1-2 times that puts both of them towards a 2nd half restart to the finish line at 17-17 all. But it was Drua who were absolutely too good by a huge margin after a few more tries were made that got themselves into the Final 8 bubble. And as for the Reds, they were simply stuck before being completely messy by Drua through the end with no tries & three-pointers accrued at all. The final score over in Suva, Fiji, was 41-17.

First of all, don’t know what to say once again after the Reds were hammered in Fiji by the Drua team, who now secured their first-ever Super Rugby finals appearance in 7th on the ladder. They weren’t bad from the beginning with great response at times after two tries + a penalty goal where the Reds were level at half-time. But sadly, their discipline & attack was unbelievably poor at worst as always which cost them possession, tries & penalties time & time again until it was too late. Brad Thorn thought that he might have taken charge for the final time today, but he gets to live another day after the Western Force just failed to beat the unstoppable Chiefs at the end of tonight. They will come in as the 8th Finals seed following their final placing on this year’s ladder, but it will still be a much tougher task nonetheless v Chiefs who will be fielding a full-strength team than the one they’ve been run over a few weeks ago also by Reds in New Plymouth.

Meanwhile, congratulations to the flying Fijian Drua team on their first Finals appearance during season two of this competition. They got themselves on the front foot by staying ahead of the top spot before the Reds struck one back for the 2nd TRY that puts them on the same page at half-time. But they managed to put an extra gear or two where more tries came their way and in the end, Drua ended up as the best team that wowed the home fans out there in Suva, Fiji. What a season that is as everyone in Fiji is right behind their Drua side to Christchurch, NZ where they will look to outsmart the Crusaders once again for the Final 4 spot next weekend. Their away record hasn’t been that great in contrast to the one they play at home, but they got the team spirit & attacking power to pull it off from there.

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Top 3 players from the Waratahs v Fijian Drua Game in Round 13 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season at Allianz Stadium

by Sports Benches

Hats off to Max Jorgensen who led the Waratahs backline well at No.15 (full-back). Love how he can do all sorts of things that helped his side steer clear above Fijian Drua such as his defensive contribution thanks to the help from his robust forwards line, as well as the passing, kicking to clear out, pace & TRY assists going forward. It goes to show he can make such a big impact right away after making his Super Rugby debut 11-12 weeks ago & also straight out of High School at the same Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. He never stops working hard from start to finish & that is something he wants to keep on improving every week, as he can’t wait to get tested now v the champs Crusaders next Saturday in NZ.

Next up is 2nd half superman for the Waratahs Joey Walton on the inside midfield role at No.12. He too has made such a big impact that helped complete his side’s attack in order to stay ahead of the Fijian Drua who doesn’t give the Waratahs an easy run. Every time he has the ball, he boasts some blistering pace as well as some brilliant passing through the channels where the support players around him were able to get the job done with a few tries on the board. Such a dynamic player to watch, especially when he made that successful 50/22 line-out kick before they converted that into a match-winning TRY. He’s still got a lot to offer after tough times with injury at 22.

And Joseva Tamani did so well on the blindside for Fijian Drua at No.6  He did everything possible in order to keep his side in contention, having helped Drua win a few penalties including 2 x three-point goals earlier in the 1st 40 before he tested the Waratahs blocks well later on that led to a TRY assist & a TRY for himself. You can’t underestimate his natural game where he has greater vision thanks to the tall frame, as well as the physicality in order to plow himself over the line. Sadly, the Drua just couldn’t overcome the Tahs robust defense despite winning possession, as they just couldn’t keep it up under pressure with the loss.

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Rugby News, NSW Waratahs win yet again for the fourth straight time after a brilliant display v Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium

by Sports Benches

Fijian Drua opened the scoring account first with the three-point penalty goal & then the same again, while the Waratahs got away by overtaking them twice alongside these two tries where they just extended their lead after the 2nd big score at half-time, 13-6. Later on, the Tahs continued to score a few more tries in order to stay ahead. On the other hand, Drua at last improved their play with back-to-back tries. But then there’s only winner to settle and that is the Waratahs where they responded to Drua’s fightback well before they got away with a comfortable win in front of their home supporters. The final score over in Moore Park was 32-18.

Commiserations to the Fijian Drua with their hard-fought loss tonight, even though they’ve done well at times with a great vibe amongst the Fijian supporters out there watching in-person. Their defense & the way they control possession with the ball wasn’t bad where they won a few penalties/turnovers, as well as back-to-back three-point penalty goals earlier on before Drua managed to fight back with back-to-back tries in the 2nd half. But the only key weakness they couldn’t overcome was the Waratahs defensive blocks where they gave them a really hard time before Drua were being punished in return along the way before it was just too much to keep up towards the end – that’s all. It doesn’t mean that their bid to the Finals is over though with back-to-back home games ahead v Moana Pasifika next Saturday & QLD Reds in two weeks time.

And how good it was to see the Tahs win another game yet again for the fourth time in a row, having won the last three at home including the Reds away in Townsville. Their defense has been outstanding where they held the Drua’s conversion play accountable before they cashed in with back-to-back tries through a good lead ahead of the break. Then they managed to extend their lead along the way thanks to their amazing attacking momentum & patience. Now the Drua may have fought back at times, but the home side stayed ahead with another few tries before the job was well & truly done towards the home run first. Great timing to have the strongest side back together in time for the Finals soon. For now, they hope to win another upset v Crusaders this time on in Christchurch next Saturday arvo just like last year at Leichhardt Oval.

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Top 3 players from the Brumbies v Fijian Drua Game in Round 8 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Gotta say that Ben O’Donnell is such a special player to watch after his hat-trick scoring brace tonight v Fijian Drua on the Brumbies wide left at No.11. He possesses so much pace & power every time he links up with the attack, which means that Ben has the licence to thrill once he has the ball on hand where he beat a few defenders along the way. Glad he’s lighting up at GIO Stadium with Stephen Larkham where he’s been following his boss around straight from Connacht over in Ireland since mid-2020. Now with a mix of 7s & Euro experience at his prime (age 27), he’s ready to do more damage by providing decent competition to Corey Toole (currently injured) on the wings.

Next up is reserve No.8 Luke Reimer off the bench where he helped the Brumbies keep their lead against the dangerous Drua side tonight. He has been an excellent backup to Pete Samu who is in his prime right now (age 31), having put his body on the line to save his team from danger & make the Drua fumble with excellent physicality as well as his height too. He’s such a great player to watch by reading through the opposition body language while being vocal when Drua were so desperate & hesitant before Luke can be a useful attacking force that helped safeguard the Brumbies with the win. He’s happy to be here (age 22) by pushing on & learning from Pete before making a name for himself every week.

And Teti Tela has been excellent who provided lots of creativity with Super Rugby experience for the Fijian Drua at No.10. He might not be tall but knows how to get the job done with excellent physical strength, particularly where to draw his men in with support before his side were able to get past the Brumbies blocks with a couple of tries on the board including one for himself just at half-time. Teti never stopped doing this when Drua were almost within the Brumbies radar for the lead at one point all thanks to his hard work. But then a couple of denied TRY opportunities unfortunately gave the Brumbies the chance to capitalise and they have done it towards the end of the game with the loss.

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Brumbies sees off a resurgent Fijian Drua side at GIO Stadium to round off a Pasifika doubleheader Friday in Canberra

by Sports Benches

And rounding off a Pasifika Friday doubleheader of Super Rugby today is the Fijian Drua taking on the ACT Brumbies as the visiting team at GIO Stadium (Canberra). It was a close first 40 with the Brumbies holding on a narrow five-point buffer (19-14) ahead of half-time following some late progress over the last 5-10 mins from Drua. Drua continued to make up lost time as they closed in on the Brumbies by scoring another 1-2 tries. But then not only Drua were unlucky along the way, but sadly lost all momentum when the Brumbies shut down a dangerous Drua unscathed with the win at home, 43-28.

Unlucky from the Fijian Drua with the loss there who put up a great show against the best Australian Super Rugby side tonight (Brumbies) in Canberra. They might have started from 0-19 earlier on, but Drua have been catching up big time in between half-time breaks through 2-3 tries on the board. Now Drua were closer towards taking over the lead for the first time tonight, but then they were denied 1-2 times by the referee despite having decent possession. And sadly, Drua have lost it where the Brumbies took advantage of their missed opportunities with another two tries before it was too late in th end.

And great to see Brumbies continue their winning run after their eight-year drought at Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane) last week v Reds has came to an end. They were not bad with the way they attack and defend all along in which is how the Brumbies play their rugby in order to win games for the majority. The one thing they will need to watch is the discipline where 1-2 yellow cards have hit against them in the lead up towards HT. That weakness right there gave Drua the opportunity to catch up while they were at risk of losing the lead at one point, but fortunately a few changes off the bench & the missed Drua 1-2 tries gave them the chance to get the job done.

Drua will now head off to Waikato v Chiefs for Round 9 on next Friday night, while the Brumbies take the week-long off ahead of Round 10 v Hurricanes on Friday 28th April (also at night) over in Wellington, NZ.

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Rugby News Australia, Top 3 players from the Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs Game in Round 2 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Ben Donaldson kicks off as one of the top performers last night at full-back for the Tahs, especially when he played an huge role of their resurgence in the 2nd half with so much damage being done along the way. Not only he can finish when he helped the Tahs level Fijian Drua sometime after the half-time break, but also finish off the game between the sticks that he normally does with these kicking duties at No.10. And love how he made that cross kick towards Mark Nawaqanitawase on the far right short side before Mark easily got the job done with plenty of room v the Drua defense. Having gained some Wallabies experience, he’s here to learn more who can do so well in both positions while maximising his natural game.

There’s another Tahs player who plays in a similar to Donaldson at No.10 and has also made a huge impact for the majority in none other than Tane Edmed. His kicking game between the sticks has been excellent as always. Then he began to unpack some abilities at No.10 other than kicking including a TRY for himself where he won that cat & mouse game v the 1-2 Drua defenders, as well as a TRY assist after he found Max Jorgensen with a quick offload on his far left short side. It was great to see this dynamic duo of him & Ben work together where competition makes them & NSW a whole lot better.

And Joseva Tamani rounds off as the best Drua player of the match on the blindside (flanker role). Gotta say that his physicality has caused the Tahs so much pain every time Drua attacks going forward, particularly when he’s got such a tall build that helped him respond to the Tahs’ opening TRY with one of his own during the first-half. The numbers were there when Tamani needed to get over the line including that driving maul where he made the Tahs sweat while Tevita Ikanvere hid the ball, before Tevita put Drua out in front again at one point ahead of Tahs all thanks to Tamani’s destructive work. Sadly, a poor defense has let him & the Drua down where the Tahs’ resurgent 2nd half run  was simply too much for them in the end.

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Rugby News, Waratahs returns to winning ways following an easy end to their Super Round match last night v Fijian Drua

by Sports Benches

Day 2 of the Super Round weekend continued at AAMI Park in Melbourne, particularly when it comes to Pasifika day throughout yesterday as the Fijian Drua take on the NSW Waratahs. The first-half was a close one where Tahs touched down for their first big score while the Drua responded well before the Tahs got away with a penalty goal that saw both sides level at the break, 10-10. Although Drua regained the lead for a while not long later thanks to another TRY, but they were brutally destroyed by the Tahs whose resurgence later in the 2nd 40 was simply too much for them in the end, 15-46.

It has been a very tough night out for the Fijian Drua side, even though they fired off not bad but then put their foot off the gas particularly over the last 20-25 minutes of the match. They showed some fight earlier on to the Tahs’ opening TRY with a three-point penalty goal followed by a TRY of their own from the towering Joseva Tamani that helped them lead for the first time. Although a lost three-point penalty goal meant that both teams were level at HT. Then they followed up not long after half-time where regained the lead for quite a while. Sadly, the way they defend from a resurgent Tahs attack has been woeful while seeing them extend their lead further & further before it was simply too late on the run home. They may have got away with a win in RD1 last week v Moana Pasifika, but the next 2-3 games starting with the Crusaders on Saturday afternoon in Christchurch are tough times ahead.

Meanwhile, it’s good to see the Tahs return to winning ways just like the opening round last year when the Drua made their Super Rugby debut. They opened the scoring account first thanks to Dave Porecki at hooker before they were challenged at times by the Drua for most of the opening 40 & the early stages after half-time. But fortunately, the Tahs were able to turn themselves around by regaining the lead before they got the job done easily in the end. A variety of patience, short passes & even a cross-kick has summed up all you need to execute an attack by scoring a maximum of big scores. Now they get to stay in Melbourne for another week v Rebels on Friday since this weekend’s round is a Super Round here. Then let’s see if they can get past both the Hurricanes & Chiefs from the Ditch, as well the Brumbies back again that could define their year in 23’.

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Rugby News Australia: Super Rugby 2023 preview

by Admin

As the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Season approaches, fans of the sport are eagerly awaiting to see how their favourite teams will perform in the competition. This year’s season will follow a similar schedule to the previous year’s, with 91 matches played in a round-robin format, followed by a knockout-style finals round.

The season will commence on February 24, with the final scheduled to take place on June 24 before the start of the 2023 mid-year international window. The defending champions, the Crusaders, will be hoping to secure their 12th title and cement their status as one of the most dominant teams in Super Rugby history.

One team that is looking to make a strong impact this season is the Blues. The New Zealand-based team finished as runners-up in the previous season after falling to the Crusaders in the final. With a strong squad, which includes the likes of Patrick Tuipulotu, Beauden Barrett, and Caleb Clarke, the Blues will be looking to go one better this year and secure their first Super Rugby title since 2003.

The Chiefs are another team that will be expected to be in contention for the title. The team, which finished in third place last season, will be looking to build on their strong performances from the previous year. The Chiefs have a strong squad that includes the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, and Sam Cane, and will be looking to capitalise on their talent and experience to challenge for the title this season.

The Hurricanes are another team that will be hoping to make their presence felt in the competition. The New Zealand-based team finished in fifth place last season, narrowly missing out on a spot in the playoffs. With a strong squad, which includes the likes of Dane Coles and Jordie Barrett. The Hurricanes will be hoping to improve on their previous season’s performance and secure a playoff spot this year.

The Brumbies, who finished fourth in the previous season, will also be looking to challenge for the title this year. The Australian-based team has a strong squad that includes the likes of Tom Banks, Allan Alaalatoa, and James Slipper. With their strong defence and well-organized attack, the Brumbies will be looking to build on their previous season’s performance and challenge for the title this year.

As for the other teams in the competition, the Waratahs will be looking to make an impact in their new home at the Allianz Stadium, while the Highlanders will be looking to improve on their disappointing eighth-place finish from the previous season. The Force and Rebels will be hoping to push for a playoff spot, while Moana Pasifika will be aiming to make an impact in their second season in the competition.

Round one of the tournament has some intriguing fixtures to kick off the competition. The defending champions, the Crusaders, are set to face off against the Chiefs in the opening game of the season, a highly anticipated match between two of New Zealand’s top rugby teams.

The Crusaders are the most successful team in Super Rugby history, having won the title a record 11 times. They will be looking to defend their title and secure their 12th championship, while the Chiefs will be hoping to take them down and start their season on a high. The two teams have a storied history, having met in several classic matches in the past. Fans can expect a high-intensity game full of big hits, fast-paced action, and incredible skill from both teams.

The Waratahs will face off against the Brumbies in another exciting match on the opening day of the tournament. The Waratahs will be looking to get their season off to a strong start as the Brumbies will be hoping to continue their impressive form from last season and challenge for the title.

On Saturday, February 25, the Moana Pasifika team will take on the Fijian Drua in what promises to be an intriguing match-up. Moana Pasifika is a combined team made up of players from Samoa, Tonga, and other Pacific Island nations, while the Fijian Drua is Fiji’s top rugby team.

The Highlanders will face off against the Blues in another exciting match on the same day. The Highlanders finished eighth on the ladder last season and will be looking to improve on that in 2023. The Blues, on the other hand, finished first but narrowly missed out on the title, losing to the Crusaders in the final. They will be hoping to go one better this season and claim the championship. The match promises to be full of attacking flair, with both teams possessing some of the most exciting players in Super Rugby.

On the same day, the Reds will face the Hurricanes in another highly anticipated match. The Reds finished seventh on the ladder last season, while the Hurricanes finished fifth. Both teams will be looking to improve on their performances from last season and make a push for the finals. The match is sure to be a high-scoring affair, with both teams possessing some of the most potent attacking threats in the competition.

The final match of round one will see the Western Force take on the Rebels in an all-Australian affair. The Force finished ninth on the ladder last season, while the Rebels finished tenth. Both teams will be looking to improve on their performances from last season and make a push for the finals. The match promises to be a highly physical encounter, with both teams possessing some of the best defensive units in the competition.

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Rugby News, Brumbies return to winning ways with an easy win v Fijian Drua in RD8 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Brumbies returned to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tonight following their loss last week v Queensland Reds, as they buckle up this time v Fijian Drua. They fired off well in the first half while Drua was scoreless at the same time, 12-0. Although Drua finally opened their scoring account later on with two tries on the board, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Brumbies from scoring. The full-time score is Fijian Drua 12-33 Brumbies, as we just completed Round 8 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific.

We got to say that the Brumbies backline was on fire, especially with the two tries from Tom Wright & Cam Clark continued to shine for the second week running. The maul after the line-outs was brilliant when they used the ball well in good hands, which is contrary to how Drua failed to live the expectations in one particular area. And they continued to cash in the Drua’s weaknesses with another few tries from hookers Billy Pollard & Connal McInerney, where the Brumbies continued to extend their winning share past the half-time break.

Meanwhile, Fijian Drua’s always strong after the break when Onisi Ratave scored two beautiful tries off the wide right. If Drua launched their big scoring spree in the 1st half, they would’ve been neck in neck with the Brumbies and potentially controlling the game by storm. However, a scoreless first 40 left them too late to catch up where a messy attacking line & poor throw-ins cost them a hard-fought loss.

So both teams will now take the next week off for Round 9 before they return in action against the New Zealand sides beginning in Round 10; Drua v Blues & Brumbies v Highlanders during the Super Round at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

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