The NSW Waratahs have secured a critical result in their race for the Super Rugby finals, departing Fiji with a bonus point victory in their 50-35 win over the Drua in Suva.
The hosts struggled in the first half, the Waratahs punishing poor handling, discipline and work rate to run in six tries and lead 36-7 at halftime, stunning the home fans.
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The Drua bounced back with four tries in the second half to Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Temo Mayanavanua, adding some respectability to the score and giving the home fans something to cheer about.
However, a second try to Ioane Moananu and another to Tah substitute Apolosi Ranawai in front of his countrymen proved enough for the visitors to secure a famous victory.
So, what did we learn?
After two years of work, the win in Suva comes as arguably the biggest result in Dan McKellar’s time as head coach.
It was hard-earned, clinical and well-executed; the Waratahs came with a plan to choke the Drua and not give them the chance to play the free-flowing, transitional style of rugby they are known for, and they delivered that plan with flying colours.
The result snaps a 14-match losing streak for the Waratahs outside of Australia, their last win on foreign soil coming in 2022 against the Highlanders in Dunedin. It also marks their first win over the Drua on Fijian soil.
With a critical bonus point on top, it will give the side no shortage of confidence right at a time when they needed it, the result seeing them slide in seventh, just one point behind the Queensland Reds.
Fijian Drua assistant coach Tim Sampson cut a frustrated figure at halftime, and with the score 36-7 at home, he had a right to be.
Throughout the first half, the Drua tried to force plays and enact a quick transition style game against a Tahs defence that didn’t allow it, and the result was plenty of dropped ball, turnovers aplenty in the ruck, poor discipline, and the work rate dropping off.
When Isikeli Rabitu was sent to the bin on halftime, it capped off an ugly 15 minutes of play as the Tahs seemed to score tries with ease, souring Glen Jackson’s final home match as head coach of the side.
While the Drua did restore some respectability to the scoreline in the second half, the errors continued, kneecapping any hopes of a miracle comeback, with Virimi Vakatawa’s line break in the 52nd minute before a loose pass ended hopes of a try summing up their afternoon.
There will be a lot of positives for Dan McKellar and his staff to dissect on Monday morning, but three key points stood out above all else.
Firstly, the first half composure and patience was stellar, the side letting their defence do the talking and not giving the Drua any chance for quick transitions and free-flowing rugby.
It was rewarded in the side-dominating territory in the first half, using ball in hand effectively to unleash their weapons out wide, with Jack Bowen a particular lynch pin in that regard.
Despite no Suaalii, Bowen, in a week where talk of changes across the board for the Tahs flyhalves was everywhere, delivered a composed performance alongside Lawson Creighton and Triston Reilly, and should be in the mix to earn another start next week.
It was raining tries in Suva, with 13 scored between both sides on a hectic afternoon in the Fijian capital.
However, while tries to Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen and Teddy Wilson will be in the mix for the highlight reel, the main scores came through up-the-guts rugby, with Fiji scoring four of their five tries in the forwards and the Tahs scoring five in the forwards in reply.
Ioane Moananu’s second try early in the second half was particularly of note, given the big run leading up to it, with Fijian Apolosi Ranawai scoring against his countrymen to ice the result a fitting finish for a big win for New South Wales.
In a year where the Waratahs' set piece has punched above its weight against other packs stuffed with international experience, to see the pigs get the rewards proved appropriate.
This stunning result has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of the chasing pack, especially when combined with the result last night in Hamilton.
The Drua, now needing eight points to break into finals, need to make history in Australia. They not only need to win in Perth and Brisbane - two cities where they have never won in Super Rugby - but also must do so in back-to-back weeks.
That also comes pending other favourable results, leaving their finals hopes all riding on next week against the Force.
For the Waratahs, this win will see them leapfrog over the Highlanders to seventh, and sit one point behind the Queensland Reds. The side will be keeping a close eye on Perth tonight, as the Force need to beat the Reds to keep their finals hopes alive.
Should the Reds lose, the Waratahs will face a derby match against the Brumbies with a finals spot potentially on the line for them, and should the Force also defeat the Drua, it sets up a grandstand finish between the two sides for finals spots in Perth in Round 16.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that knock-out rugby has come early for the men in sky blue.
