Drua Keep Finals Dream Alive with Gritty Win Over Waratahs
The Fijian Drua kept their faint playoff hopes intact with a determined 28-14 victory over the NSW Waratahs in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon. Facing a must-win scenario, the Drua held firm against a spirited but travel-weary Waratahs side.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula gave the Drua early momentum with a string of penalty goals, helping them to a 21-7 advantage shortly after halftime. The young fly-half’s accuracy from the tee proved vital in building a lead.
Julian Heaven briefly revived the Waratahs’ hopes with a second-half try, but the visitors couldn’t add to their tally beyond the 57th minute. Despite applying pressure late in the game, including a near-miss from captain Hugh Sinclair, the Waratahs couldn’t breach the Drua’s resilient defence.
Waratahs: Home Heroes, Away Strugglers
If Super Rugby were played solely at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, the Waratahs might be genuine contenders. They’ve maintained a flawless home record this season, including a notable upset over the Chiefs. Even with key injuries to Wallabies stars Jake Gordon, David Porecki, and Max Jorgensen, young talents like Teddy Wilson and Lawson Creighton have stepped up.
However, their away form tells a different story. The Waratahs remain winless on the road, suffering defeats to the Reds, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika, and now the Drua. Coach Dan McKellar acknowledged the importance of this match ahead of their bye week, but his side once again failed to deliver away from home.
The Drua dominated early, storming to a 13-0 lead before the Waratahs responded through Langi Gleeson. Ponipate Loganimasi’s try reestablished a strong halftime cushion for the hosts. Heaven’s second-half score briefly turned the tide, but the Waratahs couldn’t convert their late dominance into points, suggesting they may be more pretender than contender.
Signs of Life for the Drua, But the Climb is Steep
Heading into Round 10, the Drua looked like wooden spoon favorites, sitting well behind Moana Pasifika on the table. A RugbyPass article published Friday had all four southern hemisphere writers predicting them to finish last.
But Saturday’s result, though not entirely unexpected given their strong home form, was a step forward. Tries from Motikai Murray and Loganimasi, combined with Armstrong-Ravula’s standout performance and a strong forward platform, brought back glimpses of the Drua’s past promise.
While they remain bottom of the standings, the win offers hope. Yet, with a 13-point gap to sixth-placed Western Force before this weekend’s games, a playoff berth still feels unlikely.
James O’Connor Back in the Mix
Rugby fortunes can change quickly. Lawson Creighton starred in the Waratahs’ surprise win over the Chiefs in Round 9, even attracting Wallabies buzz from James O’Connor on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
But against the Drua, Creighton struggled in tough conditions—putting a clearing kick out on the full and having others charged down. It was a step back for the young fly-half.
Meanwhile, O’Connor made headlines with a clutch performance for the Crusaders in their dramatic 25-22 win over the Blues. Despite being based abroad like Noah Lolesio—whose move to Japan should theoretically rule him out of Wallabies contention—O’Connor’s form has pushed him back into the national team conversation. He now appears a legitimate option as a third-choice fly-half behind Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh.
While Creighton’s campaign isn’t defined by one match, O’Connor has certainly reignited his own case with a timely reminder of his quality.
