Upsets galore as Drua, Moana down Kiwi outfits

SATURDAY WRAP: The Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika provided back-to-back upsets over their more fancied Kiwi counterparts

The Fijian Drua have continued their hot streak in Lautoka, taking down ladder-leaders Chiefs 25-17 at Churchill Park.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Leinster

36 - 12

Full-time

Stormers

All Stats and Data

The Drua braved the wet conditions and a strong Chiefs first half to take their maiden win over the Hamilton-based team.

Winger Ponepati Loganimasi was the difference maker for the Drua, scoring and setting up a second half for their first win of the season.

All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho was strong in his return to the starting side, scoring the opener in the first three minutes.

The wet conditions dictated the flow of the game, as both sides dropped the ball early.

The Drua settled the game with a penalty from Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula before Jimmy Tupou charged over from close.

Armstrong-Ravula’s second penalty of the afternoon reduced the margin to six before the clearer conditions allowed the Drua to work their way into the game after the break.

No.8 Meli Derenalagi gave the hosts the perfect start after diving over from close range for the 13-12 lead.

The lead didn’t last long after centre Anton Lienert-Brown continued his strong season with his third try of the year.

Lienert-Brown won the race to the loose ball after Leroy Carter’s kick ahead allowed the centre to skid onto the ball and score.

Unfazed, the Drua mounted a charge close to the hour mark that decided the game through explosive winger Loganimasi.

The former Sevens star threw a lovely basketball-style pass inside to fullback Vuate Karawalevu, diving over to put them back in front.

Loganimasi then produced some magic after collecting a chip kick from halfway, chipping and chasing before kicking ahead for himself to extend the margin.

They held onto their lead until the end when Armstrong-Ravula kicked another penalty to put the result out of doubt.

Tupou Vaa’i ensured the Chiefs wouldn’t leave empty-handed, charging over well after the fulltime siren for a losing bonus point.

It ensures the Chiefs remain on top, barring a Reds bonus-point win, having played one more game than their Australian counterparts.

Meanwhile, the win vaults the Drua into seventh for the time being, now set to head to Canberra to face the Brumbies.

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Moana Pasifika produced an unbelievable 40-31 win over the Hurricanes to get their maiden victory of 2025.

It ensures Ardie Savea bragging rights over his old team in their first meeting since he joined the expansion side.

However, it was fellow loose forward Miracle Faiʻilagi who stole the show with a hat-trick.

The Samoan international answered Brayden Iose’s opener with their first points of the game as they came out firing.

Returning star Ruben Love capitalised on some indecision from a loose ball to hit straight back in the corner.

This inspired Moana Pasifika, who proceeded to score 28 unanswered points.

Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa barged over to give them the lead before it unravelled for the visitors, losing Iose for ten.

This is where Moana Pasifika punished the Hurricanes, with breakout star Kyren Taumoefolau winning the race to the ball to give them a 21-12 lead at the break.

Faiʻilagi’s second to start the second half gave them a 16-point lead as the Hurricanes had little answer.

Not even Tom Savage’s yellow card could slow them down, with Mills Sanerivi extending the lead in the 58th minute.

Peter Lakai got the Hurricanes firing for a brief moment with a close-range try, only for Faiʻilagi to complete the hat-trick minutes later.

The game was well out of reach when the Hurricanes mounted a late change.

Tries to Ngatungane Punivai and Jone Rova made the game closer than it was as the hosts celebrated their first win of the year in style.

Savea’s win was marred after the All Black went off right before the break with an apparent injury.

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The Waratahs have hung on to achieve a 16-year first with a spirited 34-10 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Western Force.

Overcoming the first-half loss of skipper Jake Gordon and in-form No.8 Langi Gleeson, the Waratahs ran in six tries to one to open the season with three straight wins for the first time since 2009.

Wooden spooners last season, the Waratahs are now flying high in second on the ladder under first-year coach Dan McKellar and his star-studded line-up featuring a dozen Wallabies.

Even without prized signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the Waratahs had too much firepower for the Force, who had also won their first two games in their best start to a Super season.

McKellar won’t be getting carried away, though, knowing full well his charges have been presented with – and capitalised on a dream draw to start their 2025 campaign.

The Waratahs’ scalps thus far have been the Highlanders, Fijian Drua and now the Force, three teams not expected to make the Finals, with all the wins coming on home turf.

Sterner tests are still to come, starting with a blockbuster derby next Saturday in Brisbane against the Reds before four more clashes with New Zealand heavyweights the Hurricanes, the ladder-leading Chiefs, Crusaders and defending champion Blues.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt also watched anxiously at Moore Park as Gordon iced a knee before Gleeson limped off soon afterwards with a leg injury of his own.

Force and Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch also failed to see out the game, replaced midway through the second half with an apparent knee problem in another potential concern for Schmidt.

A try-scoring double from electric winger Max Jorgensen, including a thief-in-the-night intercept to put the Waratahs up 15-5 at the break, punctuated an otherwise dour forward battle in the opening 40 minutes.

Blindside flanker Rob Leota crashed over for the Waratahs’ other first-half try, with powerhouse openside Carlo Tizzano further enhancing his Wallaby claims with his sixth try of the season for the Force.

Tizzano remains the competition’s leading try-scorer after crossing for a fifth straight match, stretching back to last season.

But there wasn’t much else for Force fans to cheer about.

Their only other five-pointer came after the fulltime siren had sounded – and after the home team had racked up three more tries in the second half through Darby Lancaster, Andrew Kellaway and Felix Kalapu.

Flyhalf Lawson Creighton enjoyed a mixed debut for the Waratahs, setting up Jorgensen’s first try with a beautiful double cut-out pass, but landing only two conversions from six shots at goal.

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Saturday’s scorers and scorers:

Fijian Drua 25-17 Chiefs

Scorers:

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Loganimasi, Karawalevu, Derenalagi
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 3

For the Chiefs: 
Tries: Taukei’aho, Tupou, Va’ai, Lienert-Brown
Cons: Jacomb 2

Teams: 

Fijian Drua: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Meli Derenlagi, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama,, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Elia Canakaivata, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Taniela Rakuro.

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14. Daniel Rona 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Jimmy Tupou, 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Manaaki Selby Rickit,, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Malachi Wrampling, 22 Xavier Roe, 23 Shaun Stevenson.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: George Myers, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie

Moana Pasifika 40-31 Hurricanes

Scorers: 

For Moana Pasifika: 
Tries: Tupou, Taumoefolau, Sanerivi, Fai’ilagi 3
Cons: Pellegrini 5

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Love, Iose, Lakai, Punivai, Rova
Cons: Godfrey 3

Teams:

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Danny Toala , 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sione Mafile’o, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 James Lay.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Samuel Slade, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Aisea Halo, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tevita Ofa.

Hurricanes: 15 Kade Banks, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo,, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Siale Lauaki.
Replacements: 16 Nic Souchon, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Jone Rova

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman

Waratahs 34-10 Western Force

Scorers:

For the Waratahs:
Tries: Kellaway, Kalapu, Leota, Lancaster, Jorgensen 2
Cons: Creighton, Edmed

For the Western Force:
Tries: Tizzano, Coxan

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Henry O’Donnell, 12 Joey Walton,, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jack Gordon (Captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Triston Reilly

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Sio Tomkinson,, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Marley Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Josh Smith, 19 Josh Thompson, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Reesjan Pasitoa

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Brett Cronan

Image credit @Superrugby