Defending champions Crusaders have slumped to their third straight defeat to start the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, falling 20-10 to Fijian Drua at Lautoka.
For the second time in 12 months, the NZ team could not handle the Churchill Park cauldron that enables the competition newcomers, now in their third year, to elevate their game to another level.
After two losses of their own, the result also marked the Drua's first win of the season.
The Crusaders opened the scoring with a penalty to first-five Tahu Kemara and – ironically – had the first try through their own Fijian influence, winger Sevu Reece, who scythed through the defence without a hand on him.
Drua responded with a penalty to Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, before winger Selestino Ravutaumada shrugged off three would-be tacklers for their first try. Armstrong-Ravula's sideline conversion levelled the scores.
Kemara missed a chance to put the visitors ahead at halftime and soon after the restart, the Fijians were quickly on top of Reece, as he scrambled back on defence, turning the ball over and putting halfback Frank Lomani across for the go-ahead try.
The home side had a chance to forge further ahead, after breaking out of their own half, but the move broke down with a forward pass metres from an open tryline.
From a Drua defensive lineout, Crusaders flanker Dom Gardiner almost latched onto a loose ball on the tryline to score.
The Crusaders had one final chance to snatch a bonus point, but their hopes were dashed by a crooked throw to an attacking lineout and the hosts were able to find touch from the ensuing scrum to end the contest.
Fijian Drua 20 (Ravutaumada & Lomani tries; Armstrong-Ravula 2 conversions & penalty) Crusaders 10 (Reece try; Kemara conversion & penalty)
More to come
Defending champions Crusaders have slumped to their third straight defeat to start the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, falling 20-10 to Fijian Drua at Lautoka.
For the second time in 12 months, the NZ team could not handle the Churchill Park cauldron that enables the competition newcomers, now in their third year, to elevate their game to another level.
After two losses of their own, the result also marked the Drua's first win of the season.
The Crusaders opened the scoring with a penalty to first-five Tahu Kemara and – ironically – had the first try through their own Fijian influence, winger Sevu Reece, who scythed through the defence without a hand on him.
Drua responded with a penalty to Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, before winger Selestino Ravutaumada shrugged off three would-be tacklers for their first try. Armstrong-Ravula's sideline conversion levelled the scores.
Kemara missed a chance to put the visitors ahead at halftime and soon after the restart, the Fijians were quickly on top of Reece, as he scrambled back on defence, turning the ball over and putting halfback Frank Lomani across for the go-ahead try.
The home side had a chance to forge further ahead, after breaking out of their own half, but the move broke down with a forward pass metres from an open tryline.
From a Drua defensive lineout, Crusaders flanker Dom Gardiner almost latched onto a loose ball on the tryline to score.
The Crusaders had one final chance to snatch a bonus point, but their hopes were dashed by a crooked throw to an attacking lineout and the hosts were able to find touch from the ensuing scrum to end the contest.
Fijian Drua 20 (Ravutaumada & Lomani tries; Armstrong-Ravula 2 conversions & penalty) Crusaders 10 (Reece try; Kemara conversion & penalty)
More to come
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