Drua blow their chance against Chiefs, Highlanders pluck Super win

SUNDAY WRAP: Two forgettable Fijian Drua moments from fullback Ilaisa Droasese have let the Chiefs off the hook before they marched to a commanding 42-22 win to close Super Round.

The Chiefs jumped back into equal first place with the Hurricanes with Sunday’s bonus-point win, the fifth Super Rugby Pacific game in three days at a heaving One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.

But at 14-10 midway through the first half, it was much tighter as the Drua threatened multiple times to go ahead.

Having already beaten ladder leaders the Hurricanes and the Brumbies twice this season, the Drua were poised to add another scalp and do the Brumbies and Reds – back in fifth and sixth place – a huge favour in the race to finals.

But Frank Lomani was taken into touch attempting to score, then Droasese produced a bizarre moment that opened the floodgates.

After collecting a loose ball deep in his in-goal area, the fullback inexplicably grubbered ahead, straight into the path of gleeful prop Jared Proffit.

He did enough to ground the ball for a head-scratching try.

From the restart a potential knock-on was overlooked, before Cortez Ratima’s try blew out what had been a tight contest.

Droasese then stumbled as he exited his in-goal area in the second half, spilling the ball into an oncoming Chiefs player for what appeared to be another inexplicable try.

It was waved away when replays showed he had grounded the ball as he fell, but the Chiefs scored anyway moments later.

Two late Drua tries gave them brief hope, but the damage had been done.

“Individual errors that aren’t good enough to beat the Chiefs,” said Drua coach Glen Jackson, who was also critical of the potential knock-on.

“It’s not what we’re after, a moment like that … it’s not good enough.

“Chiefs are a quality team and we had them on the rack quite a few times.”

The Drua scored in the second minute, before the Chiefs’ quick-fire double made it 14-7.

Setting the tone for the bizarre moments that would follow, the Drua then opted to kick a penalty from a tight angle – rather than seek a try – to make it 14-10.

“Tough battle, a bit flattered by the scoreboard,” Chiefs coach Jono Gibbs said.

“We showed glimpses of real control, accuracy and good intent and moments where we drifted.

“Even with those 35 (points), Drua were always knocking on the door.”

*A spectacular Israel Leota try had Moana Pasifika dreaming of a Super Rugby Pacific upset before the Highlanders ground to a scrappy win in Christchurch.

Leota, the hulking 21-year-old who left the Brisbane Broncos last year for a rugby shot, produced arguably the moment of Super Round in his side’s 17-27 loss on Sunday.

Pasifika need new owners to save the club from the Super Rugby Pacific scrap-heap next season.

If disbanded, Ipswich Grammar product and former Queensland junior Rugby League representative Leota did his chances of finding a new home no harm on Sunday.

He flew high in the corner to sit on Xavier Tito-Harris’s shoulders, reaching even higher for the mark before landing neatly to score a brilliant try.

“They’ve got to … this is their livelihood,” Pasifika coach Tana Umaga said of his players being on the lookout for a contract elsewhere next year, even if the club does survive.

“There’s a lot of anxiety … if they’ve got opportunities, that’s what happens.”

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph agreed that Super Round was naturally a showroom floor for Pasifika players with uncertain futures.

“You’re always having a look, I’m sure all the coaches are,” he said.

“You kind of feel sorry for them, but they’re quality players and will get picked up somewhere.”

Former Melbourne Rebels back Glen Vaihu followed up Leota’s effort with a try to give Pasifika, who have won just one game all season, a 10-7 lead.

A Highlanders penalty levelled the scores after the break, and they went ahead when Angus Ta’avoa scored.

Adam Lennox ran on to a kick for their third try to offer some breathing space, but Augustine Pulu tumbled over to make it a seven-point game in the final 15 minutes.

Pasifika had their chances but eventually Timoci Tavatavanawai stole a loose ball at the ruck and a bloodied Cameron Miller slotted a penalty to seal the win and stay in touch with the top six.

“Just a real arm-wrestle; we created a lot of opportunities we couldn’t finish off and kept the opposition in the game,” Joseph said.

“But finding a way to win is really important.”

See below for Sunday’s scores and scorers!

Highlanders 27-17 Moana Pasifika

The scorers:

For Highlanders:
Tries: Lowe, Ta’avao, Lennox
Cons: Millar 2
Pens: Millar 2

For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Leota, Vaihu, Pulu
Con: Havili

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Xavier Tito-Harris, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Te Kamaka Howden, 20 Hugh Renton, 21 Lucas Casey, 22 Folau Fakatava, 23 Taine Robinson.

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Tamateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Augustine Palu, 22 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 23 Israel Leota.

Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Marcus Playle
TMO: Richard Kelly

Chiefs 42-22 Fijian Drua

The scorers:

For Chiefs:
Tries: McAlister, Tupaea, Proffit, Ratima, Sinkinson, Cook-Savage
Cons: McKenzie 6

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Doge, Tagivetaua, Kuruvoli
Cons: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 2
Pen: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Isaac Hutchison, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Daniel Sinkinson, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Benét Kumeroa, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Lalakai Foketi.

Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Taniela Rakuro, 13 Maika Tuitubou, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 8 Isoa Tuwai, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Inia Tabuavou.

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Brett Cronan