The Fijian Drua will contest their second Super Rugby Pacific play-off series following a 40-19 win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Iosefo Masi and Waqa Nalaga bagged doubles for the hosts, who kicked on from a 19-all half time deadlock to punch their quarter final ticket.
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Here’s what we learnt:
1. Drua home with a wet sail
It took an extraordinary blitz after half time to secure Fiji’s ticket to the finals after Melbourne threatened to spoil the party in Lautoka.
An early try to Nalaga got the crowd going but the Rebels looked the better side across the opening 20 minutes with a penalty try and Andrew Kellaway dotting down.
With the half time score tied at 19-all, Fiji needed a spark and found it in Ravutaumada, who broke the deadlock almost immediately after the restart to kickstart three Drua tries in 12 minutes.
From there, the Drua were never going to be run down despite Melbourne’s best efforts.
2. Melbourne down but not out
It’s hard to imagine what must be going on inside the Rebels camp after a tumultuous week.
But Melbourne did themselves proud in Fiji with Kellaway, David Feiluai and Angelo Smith leading the charge.
The Rebels scrum – spearheaded by Super Rugby centurion Taniela Tupou – continued to impress with a penalty try testament to their dominance up front and they’ll prove a handful for whoever they face in the quarter finals.
Jake Strachan had some good touches after being thrust into the starting role with Carter Gordon a late exclusion but there’s no doubt the young Wallaby’s attacking prowess was missed in Lautoka – here’s hoping he’ll be available for the play-offs.
3. Masi the Magician
Is there a better outside centre in Super Rugby Pacific than Iosefo Masi?
The Olympic gold medallist has been superb in his second season with the Drua and saved his best performance for Round 15, scoring two tries and setting up two more in Lautoka.
If he’s not being considered for Paris 2024, he should be.
Masi’s ability to shimmy past outside shoulders and break the first tackle is uncanny, especially running right to left, and we’re tipping him for a long career in Drua blue and Fijian colours – sevens and XVs.
4. Drua win = Crusaders loss
There’s an added element to the Fijian Drua’s victory in Lautoka with the Crusaders now out of the finals race.
The defending champions had the faintest flicker of hope following Friday night’s win over Moana Pasifika but needed the Rebels to get up and other results to fall in their favour.
It was always going to be a tough ask for Melbourne to deliver for them with Fiji also needing a win and boasting home ground advantage.
The result – an era of Crusaders dominance over, for now at least.
5. Nothing to lose for Rebels finals legacy
We’ll know soon enough whether Melbourne will play their maiden quarter final in Auckland, Wellington or Canberra.
Regardless, today’s performance against the Drua in Fiji showed the Rebels can take it to any side, anywhere, with or without their stars.
Outside of that 12-minute blitz after halftime, Melbourne matched Fiji on their own turf and could’ve stolen it on another day.
It sets a mouth-watering scene for next week’s quarter finals – beware a Rebel with nothing to lose.