Drua blow their chance to add Chiefs’ Super scalp
Murray Wenzel |
Two forgettable Fijian Drua moments from fullback Ilaisa Droasese have let the Chiefs off the hook before they marched to a commanding 42-22 win to close Super Round.
The Chiefs jumped back into equal first place with the Hurricanes with Sunday’s bonus-point win, the fifth Super Rugby Pacific game in three days at a heaving One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.
But at 14-10 midway through the first half, it was much tighter as the Drua threatened multiple times to go ahead.
Having already beaten ladder leaders the Hurricanes and the Brumbies twice this season, the Drua were poised to add another scalp and do the Brumbies and Reds – back in fifth and sixth place – a huge favour in the race to finals.
But Frank Lomani was taken into touch attempting to score, then Droasese produced a bizarre moment that opened the floodgates.
After collecting a loose ball deep in his in-goal area, the fullback inexplicably grubbered ahead, straight into the path of gleeful prop Jared Proffit.
He did enough to ground the ball for a head-scratching try.
From the restart a potential knock-on was overlooked, before Cortez Ratima’s try blew out what had been a tight contest.
Droasese then stumbled as he exited his in-goal area in the second half, spilling the ball into an oncoming Chiefs player for what appeared to be another inexplicable try.
It was waved away when replays showed he had grounded the ball as he fell, but the Chiefs scored anyway moments later.
Two late Drua tries gave them brief hope, but the damage had been done.
“Individual errors that aren’t good enough to beat the Chiefs,” said Drua coach Glen Jackson, who was also critical of the potential knock-on.
“It’s not what we’re after, a moment like that … it’s not good enough.
“Chiefs are a quality team and we had them on the rack quite a few times.”
The Drua (4-6) scored in the second minute, before the Chiefs’ quick-fire double made it 14-7.
Setting the tone for the bizarre moments that would follow, the Drua then opted to kick a penalty from a tight angle – rather than seek a try – to make it 14-10.
“Tough battle, a bit flattered by the scoreboard,” Chiefs coach Jono Gibbs said.
“We showed glimpses of real control, accuracy and good intent and moments where we drifted.
“Even with those 35 (points), Drua were always knocking on the door.”
AAP