The Fijian Drua have spoiled Zac Lomax's Super Rugby Pacific debut with a 24-22 win over the Western Force in Lautoka.
The Force had a chance to win the game late, but ill-discipline and errors were their downfall as their season hangs in the balance.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
So what did we learn?
There was enough to like from Zac Lomax’s debut in his 20 minute stint.
He won a clean high ball early in his stint, although he was dragged into touch after taking it right on the touchline.
His best passage came with 11 minutes to go after getting the ball in an acre of space, holding the defence for Ben Donaldson to kick clear, which would eventually lead to a Force five-pointer.
There are still areas to work on, found ball watching on occasion, but more than enough there for fans to be encouraged by his move.
The Force are basically now in must-win territory if they are to play finals.
They will remain in Australia for the rest of the competition, leaving Perth one final time for a two-week trip along the east coast against the Brumbies and Waratahs.
This was another game they'll feel got away from them in a season where they have left competition points on the table.
It starts with the Crusaders, before finishing their season with four Australian derbies and the Drua.
You have to feel for Ben Donaldson but ultimately, the accuracy off the tee was the difference.
Donaldson and the Force struggled all afternoon, kicking a combined 1/5, most of which came from the sidelines.
The penalty with two minutes to go was tough for any kicker; however, it was the type that stands out if made when looking at Test selections.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula wasn’t much better but was good enough for the win.
Virimi Vakatava came back to Fiji with a massive reputation and he delivered to that and spades in his fourth game for the Drua.
The former French international was a late inclusion but was unstoppable as he proved a handful for the Force defence.
The 33-year-old provided the perfect mix of classy playmaking with bulldozing runs to unlock young speedsters Isikeli Basiyalo and Isikeli Rabitu.
His combination with co-captain Tuidraki Samusamuvodre was lethal, there in support constantly to set up back-to-back tries.
The Force will lament the mountain of crucial errors that made as they were sucked into the Drua’s style of play.
They made great ground into the hosts’ 22 but when it came down to execution, they couldn’t turn pressure into points.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula’s try in the 29th was symbolic of their struggles, with the Force coughing the ball up three separate times before the Drua made them pay with an 80 metre effort that swung the momentum.
They had more than enough opportunities to win this game, but were unable to make them count.