Super Rugby Pacific – Hurricanes 38-15 Fijian Drua at Suva’s ANZ Stadium

Roger Brown

2 weeks ago

The Wellington-based Hurricanes defeated the Fijian Drua 38–15 in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday, extending their winning streak to eight games and snapping the Drua’s home unbeaten streak. The Hurricanes overcame a subpar second half in which they were given three yellow cards.

The top-ranked Hurricanes had a strong first half, scoring four tries to take a 28-7 lead at halftime.

However, they lost the game in the second half, playing with just 13 players for about ten minutes after Isaia Walker-Leawere and DuPlessis Kirifi were sin-binned in the 64th and 65th minutes. A yellow card was also given to replacement prop Caleb Delany two minutes prior to fulltime.

Recap: Hurricanes drub Fijian Drua 38-15 in Suva

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Hurricanes vs Fijian Drua Match Preview

NUMIA GETS OVER!!! O’Reilly feeds again and finds Walker-Leawere in the middle. They set the maul with O’Reilly holding it in the back. They go on the march and Numia rips it away from him as they peel to the left. The maul goes down just shy of the line but Numia stays on his feet and barges over from close range.

O’Reilly feeds the lineout and the Drua are pinged for playing the man in the air. Barrett plugs the corner for a 5m lineout for the Canes.

Valentini puts it out on the halfway and the Drua win another lineout. Shields gets over the ensuing ruck however and earns his side the penalty. Barrett puts the ball out on the 22m as the Hurricanes look to play on after the hooter.

Delany is the recipient of the teams third yellow for too many penalties at the breakdown

The Drua win the lineout and the Drua go to the midfield again. Penalty again for the Drua for not rolling away.

Judd feeds the scrum and Naholo hammers it downfield and rolls it into touch just shy of the Drua 22m.

Valentini peels off 45m from halfway to put the lineout 5m from the line. Togiatama finds his target and they set the maul. It looks sloppy for the Drua and Delany is able to get through the middle and disrupt the play. It doesn’t come out of there so the Hurricanes will have the scrum feed on their 5m line.

Team lists:

Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isikeli Rabitu, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 1 Haereiti Hetet

Bench: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Meli Derenalagi, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Michael Naitokani, 23 Junior Ratuva

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Kini Naholo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Ben Grant, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 James O’Reilly, 1 Tevita Mafileo

Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Bailyn Sullivan