Fijian Drua vs Melbourne Rebels: Super Rugby Pacific live scores, blog

That misguided throw by J.Uelese about the 68th minute took all the wind out of the Rebels' momentum. They were on a late comeback, a maul close to the line was on and they very likely to get close enough to score the loser bonus point. Then that awful throw. You could literally see the shoulders slump. :crying:

Shaun, it must be fun playing those big body islander boys, powered on by their vocal crowd who are adoring the chance to see top level rugby. I'm sitting 3000 km away and even I winced at some of the hits the Drua boys were putting on. Then the poor Rebels had to tackle them also? It seemed unfair. LoL But it will give all of them an insight in how much tougher and better they need to be. Am loving SRP and everyone is a winner. Fiji rugby for now having a pathway and Aussie & NZ rugby for playing against teams with different styles and on the improve. As for the Foo-man, just ignore his diatribe as he often talks foo. :silly:

Australian Hookers are complete rubbish. Throw the effing ball in straight.

Well said John and thanks for the commentary so I could get a feel of what happened in that 1st half disaster. And well noted of too many Rebels players being too far forward and/or out of position when the attack ball is suddenly lost. Possibly the Rebs players were too gassed from the humidity/heat to turn around and chase. I remember people talking about the poor transition from attack to defence by the WB 4-5 years ago and although there have been some improvements, dare I say all of the Aussie SRP teams need to be better. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the next game gives them no time to relax and work on issues. The Blues also have some big powerful and fast beasts who love to run the ball back at ya also. :unhappy:

Dunno about overhyped. The headline for this week's picks was that the Drua were the favourites. Certainly they've been talked up recently, but that's been based on results not hyperbole.

Playing the Drua at home is a very different ballgame. Decisions go their way and they tackle with menace.

John, the referee in Canberra might also be a mite more harsh on pulling down mauls all the time. From memory the Drua only got pinged once for that crime but if they do that in Canberra you may see a lot of yellow bench warming. :shocked:

Francis, so you're one of the arrogant ones thinking that the Drua is just there to make up the numbers? The franchises that didn't play them in Fiji were very lucky.

Rebels were poor. Especially in the first half and didn’t deserve to win. But 21-7 to the rebels in the second half. Intercept try to the Drua in the first half. Tough conditions to play in and Drua well deserved winners at home. But Rebels very poor first half cost them the win.

Well I missed the 1st half so cannot comment there but the Rebels showed heart in the 2nd half and outscored the Drua by 3 tries to 1. Unfortunately they let in 5 tries in the 1st half. Seemed to be a lot of late hits and knock-ons missed by the referee team but that 1st half killed off the game. Seemed a good game and congratulations to a team quickly earning the tag of everyone's "2nd favourite team". I notice a few comments during the 1st half on Carter Gordon missing loads of tackles. In the 2nd half I only saw him miss one when a fast flying winger stepped him rushing across in cover defence. Considering his ribs were likely screaming with pain from the brutal hits (legal and late ones) that he was taking, I dare to say his defence was pretty good. From the video of all the tries from the 1st half shown during the break, only once was he involved in a tackle where a try was scored. True he was initially brushed but still got his hands around the bloke's ankles and dropped him. However the ball-runner had drawn in the 2nd defender as well and was good enough to pass to his support as he fell. True that the movement would have been killed if Gordon had drilled the Drua player in the first place though the 2nd defender left his man who supported and scored the try. Half a point off each player.

All Francis Foo has done this game is make negative and ridiculous comments about the Rebels. Clearly not a supporter and has his own agenda. Not sure why he even watched the game considering how “offensive” and “disgraceful” the rebels were. I’d like to see him front up to some of those Drua players…like he would do any better.

???????? disgraceful comment by you

You a Waratahs fan? Not sure it was a humiliation. Drua are a good side this year, playing at home in front of a big crowd in the hot Fiji weather. Rebels very poor.

After all the hype the past week after the Rebels beaten the Reds, let’s not allow the pendulum to swing too far and get discouraged. Drua was good at home as should be expected and the Rebel Wallabies had their first game and will get better. The Rebels is a middle of the patch team that should make the finals but very unlikely to secure a home final.

If my count is correct - 13 to 2 penalty count in favour of the Rebels….Drua very lucky to keep 15 men on field all game.

It was a poor effort that’s for sure, but hardly disgracing the franchise. This team beat the Crusaders 2 weeks ago and playing in front of a huge home crowd. Fiji got out to an early lead and those boys love playing running rugby when infront. Rebels didn’t aim up, tackling was very poor and way too many errors. But disgracing the franchise ? Hardly. This Rebels team has shown more heart this year so far (with multiple wallaby players injured) than they have over many years.