Fijian Drua Suffer Heavy Defeat Against Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific
The Fijian Drua endured a tough outing in Round 6 of Super Rugby Pacific, falling to a crushing 52-15 defeat against the Western Force in Perth. The home side dominated from the opening whistle, shutting down Drua’s offensive efforts while capitalizing on scoring opportunities to secure a commanding victory.
First-Half Onslaught by the Force
Western Force set the tone early, asserting their dominance by crossing the try line multiple times in the opening half. Their relentless attacking pressure saw them rack up five first-half tries, leaving the Drua struggling to find any momentum. By halftime, the Force had built an imposing 33-5 lead.
Fiji’s only response in the opening half came just before the break, when Ilaisa Droasese managed to score, giving his side a glimmer of hope. However, the deficit remained significant as the teams headed into the locker room.
Drua Show Some Fight in the Second Half
After the break, the Fijian side showed signs of resilience, managing to put more points on the board. Taniela Rakuro and Etonia Waqa each scored a try, but their efforts were not enough to shift the momentum of the game.
The Force continued their dominant display, maintaining their structured play while taking advantage of Drua’s struggles in key areas. Late in the match, the hosts added more tries, putting an exclamation mark on their emphatic victory.
Key Issues for the Drua
The Drua faced significant challenges throughout the match, with discipline and set-piece execution proving to be major weaknesses. Handling errors and turnovers allowed the Force to gain the upper hand, while the hosts’ ability to move the ball quickly further exposed gaps in the Drua’s defense.
To compound their issues, goal-kicking proved costly as both Caleb Muntz and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula missed crucial conversions, preventing the Drua from narrowing the deficit at key moments.
What’s Next for the Drua?
Following this tough loss, the Drua will have a bye week, giving them time to regroup and address their shortcomings. Their next match will be on the 5th of next month when they host the Crusaders, a fixture that presents another major challenge for the team as they look to bounce backfrom this heavy defeat.