Drua Claim Last-Minute Victory over Reds, Igniting Celebrations in Suva

In a thrilling finish, Fijian Drua substitute Isikeli Rabitu crossed the line for a try with just 52 seconds remaining, delivering a stunning 36-33 victory over the Queensland Reds. This match marked the Drua’s first outing since Les Kiss was appointed as the new coach of the Wallabies.

The Reds appeared on the brink of claiming their first win in Suva when disaster struck — flanker Fraser McReight received a yellow card in the final moments, leaving his team a man down.

Seru Uru looked poised to secure the win for the Reds after forcing a turnover on his own line, but the ball slipped from his grasp almost immediately after he gained possession.

Rabitu seized the opportunity, diving for the line to score a last-minute try. This dramatic moment followed a regather of possession by the Drua after a speculative kick from winger Taniela Rakuro, deep within his own half.

Fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula converted the try, clinching a sensational three-point victory for the Drua, marking just their third triumph of the season and igniting jubilant celebrations at the packed HFC Stadium in Suva.

Notably, this victory marked the Drua’s second consecutive home win against Australian rivals, having previously defeated the Waratahs in Lautoka on April 19.

Reds captain Tate McDermott reflected on the match, stating, “We’re obviously a bit disappointed with the outcome, but I thought the boys did really well to fight their way back into the game.” He continued, “The Drua played a physical game and we missed too many tackles. While we are disappointed, we did secure a bonus point, which is better than nothing.”

NEW PODCAST! Inside Line examines the appointment of Les Kiss as Wallabies coach following the transition from Joe Schmidt.

McDermott added, “We allowed them to score too easily, too often. Against a team like the Drua, if you grant them that much space and time, they’ll take full advantage.” He concluded optimistically, “We’ll learn from this experience. It’s not all doom and gloom, and we have an important game next week against the Waratahs before facing the Brumbies. We’ll tackle it one week at a time.”

The big picture

This nail-biting victory keeps the Drua’s slim hopes of making the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs alive. Although they sit at the bottom of the table, they have reduced the gap to sixth place to just seven points.

The Reds remain in fourth position with 28 points, and their bonus point ensures they won’t be overtaken this weekend.

What’s next

The Drua will take on the Blues at HFC Stadium in Suva next Friday — a must-win encounter for the Fijian side, whilst the Reds are set to head to Sydney to face the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on the same night.