Fijian Drua
31
Match Complete
Melbourne Rebels
26
| 82 |  | M. To'omua | ||
| 80 |  | R. Nu'u | ||
| T. Tela |  | 76 | ||
| T. Tela | | 66 | ||
| T. Tela | | 63 | ||
| 58 | | Y. Tonumaipea | ||
| T. Tela | | 55 | ||
| A. Vota | | 54 | ||
| T. Tela | | 52 | ||
| V. Miramira | | 44 | ||
| C. Muntz | | 39 | ||
| O. Ratave | | 38 | ||
| 34 | | M. To'omua | ||
| 32 | | J. Hanson | ||
| 3 | | M. To'omua | ||
| 1 | | Y. Tonumaipea |
| 3 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 4 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Super Rugby Pacific round three continues with the Fijian Drua playing their first home game against the struggling Melbourne Rebels at Sunshine Coast Stadium. This will have been one of the clashes that the Drua targeted ahead of their season for a victory and the Rebels are going to be up against a passionate side. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45 pm (AEDT).
Rebels coach, Kevin Foote has rung the changes in an attempt to find a winning formula for the Melbourne side. In their opening two games they’ve really struggled to create any pressure on their opponents and really offered little if any threat.
Foote has made three changes in his back line with Carter Gordon starting at full back while suspended Reece Hodge has to watch from the stands. Former NRL winger Young Tonumaipea is into the starting line up and Lukas Ripley will join Raymond Nu’u in the centres.
Up front Tamati Ioane starts at number eight, Josh Canham will join Matt Philip in the second row and James Hanson will replace Jordan Uelese at hooker.
The Drua have had a frustrating start to their Super Rugby experience with two losses including being torn to pieces by the Brumbies last week. But this could very much be their week.
Club captain Nemani Nagusa is out so Sevens Olympic gold medallist Meli Derenalagi will take on the leadership duties.
Preparations for the match have not been smooth and easy though for the Drua. With the flooding in NSW and Queensland causing so much damage and disruption to their travel plans, the 35 strong squad of players and staff got into cars and went on a road trip using backroads in both states to get to the Sunshine Coast.
How much of an impact this will have had on their preparation will be seen come kick off but it certainly isn’t the ideal way to head into game day.
Prediction
Despite recent form, the Rebels are favourites going into this game with the bookmakers, but there is something in the air and tonight is going to be a night to remember as the Drua pick up their first Super Rugby Pacific victory.
Drua by 7.
Game Information
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT), Friday 4th March 2022
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Fijian Drua $5.90, Rebels $1.13 – odds via PlayUp
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referee: Reuben Keane, James Palmer
Teams
Fijian Drua
1. Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 2. Tevita Ikanivere, 3. Samu Tawake, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Ratu Rotuisolia, 6. Meli Derenalagi (c), 7. Vilive Miramira, 8. Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 9. Peni Matawalu, 10. Caleb Muntz, 11. Vinaya Habosi, 12. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13. Apisalome Vota, 14. Selesitino Ravutaumada, 15. Baden Kerr.
Reserves:
16. Mesulame Dolokto, 17. Timoci Sauvoli, 18. Manasa Saulo, 19. Viliame Rarasea , 20. Rusiate Nasove , 21. Joshua Vuta, 22. Teti Tela , 23. Jona Mataiciwa.
Rebels
1. Cameron Orr, 2. James Hanson, 3. Cabous Eboff, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Josh Canham, 6. Michael Wells (c), 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Tamati Ioane, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. Raymond Nu’u, 13. Lukas Ripley, 14. Young Tonumaipea, 15. Carter Gordon.
Reserves:
16. Efi Ma’afu, 17. Isaac Aedo Kailea, 18. Rhys Van Nek, 19. Josh Hill, 20. Sam Wallis, 21. James Tuttle, 22. Nick Jooste, 23. Ilikena Vudogo.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Tough times at the rebels. Might just be one of those years.
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Bad luck with the force. I tipped my QLD Reds to win. Thought it was gonna be closer than it was. The force are building a good team over hear in the west.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
No if we kick them out I don't see any way back in.
Dwards
Roar Rookie
Yep
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Even when the Rebels has had lots of Test players on the paddock through the years, they have always found a way to lose. This is not first time the Rebels has under-performed, injuries or no injuries.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Tell us all about this hammering the Reds copped at Suncorp by the Sunwolves sunshine?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So it’s ok when the Reds had terrible losses despite being a foundation Super Rugby teams, but never teams can’t?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Correct pronunciation
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
Whats with the commentators saying ndrua? is that the correct pronunciation or are they just being odd?
Adsa
Roar Rookie
No I don't TWAS, I remember a 60-28 win by the Sunwolves in Tokyo in 2018 and I remember a 64 - 5 hammering of the Sunwolves by the Reds at Suncorp in 2020. But geez if you are going back to 2018 to make a point then it is redundant, live in the now, not the past.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Powell was actually great in the SR AU final in 2020. Was good in SR AU last year for the Rebels but since TT he’s been rather impotent. But Tuttle who I’m a fan of was worse tonight. As for MT not sure how much we can blame him. Powell inside offering little and attracting little D interest and then no decent options outside of him to use. Not much he can do. Thought he was a bit lateral at times but really don’t see any 10 doing too much more there. Looking back it’s mostly just disappointing the Rebels let themselves be managed out of that game. They scored 4 tries to 3. On defence they controlled the game. I think 2 of the tries were in quick transition from a turn over (one though a line out maul fumble which left them exposed but hard to prepare for the turnover on attack). But the last 30 the Drua just ticked the points over and let the Rebels infringe on D, which they had no need to as when the Drua had the ball they weren’t getting through the Rebels line.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Awesome work Drua. Congratulations!
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
The way he bravely stares down the camera in these interviews reminds me of Richard Sammel in Inglourious Basterds as Eli Roth’s character comes out with the baseball bat.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Joe Powell has been a disappointment for me even before tonight. Now I know why Brumbies played him so little and let him go. He and MT should have led and/or driven that team around the park. Somethings not right there. One positive the pathways are producing prospects. Josh Canham looked scrawny but like a rugby player. The scrawny part you can fix, the other bit is harder. The team still played dumb sometimes though and I think that goes back to the coaching. Cheers
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most don’t have 14-19 though. It’s probably not even the number. It’s the compounding injuries in positions. Josh Canham would be 5th choice lock. 2 injuries away from making the 23. He started the game. Carter Gordon would be the 4th choice full back at best behind Hodge, Worth and Kellaway. Vaihu is probably 2 or 3 injuries outside the 23 too. Tamati Ioane possibly doesn’t make the 23 if Leota, Kemeny and Hardwick are available. Ripley would be 3rd to 4th choice at 13. There’s a few decent players, but it just means that 5 or so on the pitch are not up to this level (which is why they aren’t in the official squad), or are a couple of years away, and were recruited on the expectation that this year they’d be playing games like tomorrow Rising game vs Sydney Uni.
Harry Jones
Expert
He is almost like a priest, on a pilgrimage, without food and comfort.
James584
Roar Rookie
The standard of rugby in that game was very average. Rebels were diabolical in the final 20 minutes.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
TF, I think I've had too many "quick beers" to stick around for that although I'll try, probably falling asleep and giving myself spasmodic torticollis in the process. Cheers
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
TF, him and about 6 other blokes! Good call though.