Shocks and drama as Super Rugby race heats up

SATURDAY WRAP: The Waratahs lost to the Fijian Drua, extending their Super Rugby Pacific losing run away from home to nine matches, their worst streak since 1997.

In the other matches on Saturday, the Brumbies produced a strong finish to record a hard-earned 24-0 victory over Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe, and the Chiefs reclaimed their place at the top of the standings with a 46-10 rout of the Highlanders.

The NSW Waratahs’ travelling woes have hit a 28-year low with a 14-28 loss to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

Continuing their Jekyll and Hyde season, the Waratahs followed up a rousing 21-14 victory over the table-topping Chiefs with a demoralising defeat to the last-placed Drua on Saturday.

Unbeaten in five home games, the Waratahs remain winless on the road in 2025.

Even worse, the Tahs have now suffered nine consecutive away losses for the first time since 1996-97.

Coach Dan McKellar had demanded a shift in mindset and for his charges to front up physically after heavy defeats in New Zealand to the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika.

But the NSW coaching staff once again lamented the Waratahs coming off second best in the collision stakes as the Drua enjoyed 66 percent of first-half possession and 75 percent territory to seize control at their Churchill Park fortress.

Already resting Wallabies forwards Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell, and Rob Leota as part of Rugby Australia’s rotation policy, and still without sidelined skipper Jake Gordon, the Waratahs weren’t helped by losing three more players to injury in the steamy conditions.

Gordon’s deputising scrumhalf Teddy Wilson was replaced at halftime after lock Ben Grant and flank Charlie Gamble had limped off after 10 and 20 minutes respectively.

Against the odds, the depleted Waratahs produced a gritty second-half fightback to threaten to send the match into golden-point “super time”, as they did last year after battling back from 16 points behind.

Alas, the damage was done in the first half as the Drua once again held on in such extreme heat that the two sides were afforded a drinks break at the hour-mark.

Adding to their despair, the fifth-placed Waratahs conceded a penalty try after the full-time siren to miss out on a precious bonus point as the Drua extended their unbeaten record at home to eight matches.

“It’s a tough place to play footy,” said stand-in Waratahs captain Hugh Sinclair.

“We fell off too many tackles in the first half and gave them a head start at halftime, and we just couldn’t pull it back.

“But yeah, you’ve got to win away from home if you’re going to go deep in the comp, and we haven’t done that so far.”

After two early penalty goals to flyhalf Isaiah-Armstrong-Ravula helped the Drua to a 6-0 lead, the hosts ran in two tries with NSW’s former England sevens star Jamie Adamson exposed in defence on both occasions.

First, flank Motikiai Murray split Adamson and replacement lock Miles Amatosero to stroll over in the 22nd minute.

Then prolific try-scorer Ponipate Loganimasi added to his tally in the shadows of halftime to give the hosts an 18-7 advantage after easily beating lame efforts from Adamson and his opposing wing Andrew Kellaway.

No doubt inspired by having dozens of extended family members in the crowd, powerhouse back-rower Langi Gleeson kept the Tahs in the contest with their only first-half try just two minutes after replacing Gamble.

When replacement hooker Julian Heaven burrowed over in the 56th minute, the Waratahs had reduced the deficit to seven points.

But the visitors were unable to convert their momentum into a drought-breaking away win ahead of a bye next week when they could fall out of the top eight.

* Later, the Brumbies had to roll up their sleeves to notch a much harder-earned 24-0 victory over Moana Pasifika than the end scoreline suggests.

Try-scoring doubles to fleet-footed wing Corey Toole and replacement hooker Billy Pollard ultimately secured the Brumbies back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

For almost an hour, though, Saturday’s match in Pukekohe seemed destined to finish as the lowest-scoring affair in Super Rugby’s 30-year history.

The first points weren’t posted until the 41st minute after both sides had players held up over the line, either side of Moana wing Fine Inise having a try overturned by the TMO for a line-out infringement in the lead-up.

But Toole showcased his lightning speed to pounce on an Andy Muirhead chip kick in a spectacular counter-attacking play 30 seconds after the halftime siren had sounded.

The heartbreaker took the wind out of Moana’s sails after the home team had enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory as well as a one-man advantage for 10 minutes of the opening stanza after Brumbies lock Tom Hooper was yellow-carded.

Pollard’s first of two driving maul tries in the 55th minute ensured the Highlanders’ 6-0 win over the Crusaders in 2009 remains the lowest aggregate total of points for a Super Rugby match in any version of the competition.

He jagged a second – and his sixth for 2025 – to give the Brumbies an unbeatable 17-0 lead, before Toole dived over in the corner late following some brilliant work from replacement scrumhalf Harrison Goddard and fullback Tom Wright.

Ironically, the dour contest on New Zealand’s North Island came after the Brumbies piled on 122 points in their previous two 60-21 and 62-36 wins over Moana.

The victory shot the Brumbies up to second on the ladder ahead of a home game next Saturday against the Hurricanes.

* Hamilton offered smoother conditions than other fixtures in New Zealand over the past few days, but points were still hard to come by until the Chiefs broke the game open in the second half.

The Highlanders were forced to make 100 tackles in the opening 40 minutes alone, and couldn’t help but start to leak points in the second.

Strong tactical kicking and physicality saw the Chiefs capitalise and claim a 46-10 win.

* More to follow …

All the Saturday scores and scorers follow below ….

Fijian Drua 24-14 Waratahs

Scorers

For Fijian Drua
Tries: Murray, Loganimasi, Penalty try
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula, a penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 3

For the Waratahs
Tries: Gleeson, Heaven
Cons: Creighton, Edmed

Teams:

Fiji Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Taniela Rakuro, 13 Iosefo Masi (co-captain), 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Ponipate Longanimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto (co-captain), 1 Peni Ravai.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Leone Nawai, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Inia Tabuavou.

Waratahs: 15 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Leafi Talataina, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Jamie Adamson, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Isaac Kailea.
Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Henry O’Donnell.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Winter, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly

Moana Pasifika 0-24 Brumbies

Scorers

For Moana Pasifika
None

For the Brumbies
Tries: Toole 2, Pollard 2
Cons: Meredith 2

Teams:

Moana Pasifika: 15 Tevita Ofa, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Sione Havili Talitui (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Michael Curry, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sione Mafile’o, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Samuel Slade, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Danny Toala.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Ollie Sapsford, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tuanina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 Rhys van Nek.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Cadeyrn Neville, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Hudson Creighton.

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman

Chiefs 46-10 Highlanders

Scorers

For the Chiefs
Tries: Narawa, Carter, Boshier 2, Finau, Taukei’aho
Cons: McKenzie 5
Pens: McKenzie 2

For the Highlanders
Try: Kautai
Con: Millar
Pen: Millar

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Taniela Filimone, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Sosefo Kautai, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Te Kamaka Howden, 20 Will Stodart, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Jonah Lowe.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Jordan Way
TMO: James Leckie