Western Force beat Fijian Drua in Sydney

Fijian Drua will meet Western Force in Super Rugby for the first time; Force has won each of their last two matches when facing a new franchise for the first time, after winning only one of all their 16 such fixtures (D2, L13).

This is set to be Fijian Drua’s second Super Rugby match in New South Wales; they lost to the NSW Waratahs in their last fixture in the state (40-10, Round 1 – 2022 Super Rugby Pacific).

• The Western Force have won one of their last 11 Super Rugby matches against teams from outside Australia (L10), a 16-6 win against the Jaguares (Round 12, 2017); however, they have lost seven consecutive such fixtures since.
• The Perth-based team has won only one of their last seven Super Rugby matches in New South Wales (L6); although, six of the seven games in that span have been decided by a single-figure margin.
• The Fijians have made 111 tackles per game this season, the joint-fewest of any team in the competition (also Waratahs and Chiefs).
• The Force have missed 12 tackles per game in 2022, the fewest of any team in the competition and eight per game fewer than the Drua (20).

Influential players

• Fergus Lee-Warner has made eight offloads in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most by any player in the competition and two more than Fijian Drua’s best (Peni Matawalu – 6).
• Feleti Kaitu’u has made 31 successful lineout throws this campaign, more than any other player in the competition, and 13 more than Drua’s best (Mesulame Dolokoto – 18).
• Apisalome Vota has beaten 18 defenders in 2022, more than any other player in the competition, two more than Western Force’s best (Manasa Mataele – 16).
• Only the Brumbies’ Tom Banks (329) has gained more metres this season than Western Force’ Manasa Mataele (319) and the Fijian Drua’s Vinaya Habosi (277).

Match detail

We are waiting for the kick-off.

In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.

1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney.

3.00: An early penalty goes the way of Fijian Drua after Feleti Kaitu’u left his feet at the ruck. The Drua, however, lost their attacking lineout allowing the Force to clear to their 10m.

5.00: The standard early reset scrums continue to blight Super Rugby, although, the Drua manage to win a penalty after a reset set-piece collapses. Teti Tela boots to the Force 22.

8.00: Fijian Drua concedes a penalty after the lineout. Jake McIntyre kicks to the opposition’s 22 where the Australians mount an attack.

12.00: It’s been a tale of mistakes from each team inside the other’s 22, constant turnovers, penalties, and handling errors as they search for the opening points. Scrappy.

16.00: More of the same from each side. Territory and possession are fairly even, but the Fijians have lost a scrum and three lineouts, while conceding penalties and free-kicks at scrum time, too.

18.00: Another scrum penalty is booted to the corner as the Force look to take advantage of their field position.

19.00: TRY! Jeremy Thrush, the 12-time All Black, gets up with the ball after a well-worked rolling maul. 0-5

21.00: CONVERSION! Ian Prior slots the wide kick. 0-7

24.00: Fijian Drua cannot get out of their 22, when they do, they find themselves back inside and conceding penalties.

25.00: Jovesa Tamani gives away a kickable penalty in front of the posts.

26.00: PENALTY! Prior makes no mistake. 0-10

28.00: The Perth-based team has slowly become dominant; they have had 67% possession and territory, and four visits to zero inside the 22.

30.00: There’s a decent crowd full of Fijian Drua supporters, they are making noise too. Both teams have conceded six penalties apiece, but the Fijians are really having trouble in the scrums.

31.00: MISS! Prior misses from long-range. 0-10

34.00: TRY! Vinaya Habosi takes Kalaveti Ravouvou’s double skip-pass before putting on the jet shoes to burn Byron Ralston to finish near the corner. The try came from the first sustained attack (10 phases) by the Fijians. 5-10

34.00: MISS! Tela’s attempt is wide. 5-10

36.00: Vilive Miramira is offsides, Bayley Kuenzle boots to the Drua 22.

39.00: Fijian Drua mounting a last effort before the break. They have gone from their 22 to the opposition’s 22 as they search for the game-tying try.

40.00: NO TRY! Samuela Tawake runs through Manasa Mataele and Jake Strachan to level from close range after another sustained attack (15 phases), but the TMO chalks off the score because of a knock-on by Sorovakatini Tuifagalele in an earlier phase near the try line. 5-10

41.00: YELLOW CARD! Ollie Callan is off for repeated infringe,ments on the Force try line. 5-10

42.00: PENALTY! Tela reduces the gap to two. 8-10

The halftime score was Fijian Drua 8 Western Force 10

41.00: PEEEP! We are back underway down under.

43.00: TRY! The Force ends a patient multiphase attack (22 phases) with a try from Fergus Lee-Warner for his fourth Super Rugby try. 8-15

44.00: CONVERSION! Prior adds the extras. 8-17

45.00: TRY! Fijian Drua hits back! Kalaveti Ravouvou’s midfield break, slipping both Richard Kahui and Bayley Kuenzle’s tackles before racing from halfway to the 5m line. The centre was tackled short, but the supporting Frank Lomani gathered to score next to the poles. 13-17

47.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. Game on. 15-17

50.00: Fijian Drua looks the stronger side now, they are even winning free-kicks at scrum time.

53.00: Superb work at the breakdown sees the Fijians win another penalty.

56.00: A third second-half penalty will allow Tela a chip-shot from in front.

57.00: PENALTY! Tela puts his team ahead. 18-17

61.00: The Force are fighting back with some excellent counter-attacks, but the Fijians keep them at bay.

64.00: The Force is now under the pump as the Drua keep them camped inside the 22 with a series of penalties and scrums.

67.00: Epic defending from Sampson’s team on their line. The Drua will be upset with that poor play on the opposition’s try line.

71.00: Mistakes continue, but it’s an entertaining end to a fascinating contest.

74.00: No points since the 57th minute, this game is tight.

76.00: Fijian Drua wins a kickable penalty from 43 metres out and almost in front. Lomani has an ice-pack on his right shoulder as he screams instructions from the sidelines.

78.00: MISS! Tela cannot land the kick. 18-17

83.00: MISS! Napolioni Bolaca misses a drop-kick from in front after a 24-phase attack. However, the Force had a penalty advantage for offside.

84.00: PENALTY! Bayley Kuenzle slots the winning kick from near the touchline. WOW! What a game, what a finish!

FULL TIME

To refresh this page, click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.

The final score is Fijian Drua 18 (8) Western Force 20 (10)

Scorers

Fijian Drua
Tries – Habosi, Lomani
Pen – Tela (2)
Con – Tela
Drop –
Cards –

Western Force
Tries – Thrush, Lee-Warner
Pen – Prior, Kuenzle
Con – Prior (2)
Drop –
Cards – Callan (Yellow, 41′)

Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Reuben Keane
Assistant Ref 2: James Palmer
TMO: Brett Cronan

Teams

Fijian Drua

15 Jona Mataiciwa, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Apisalome Vota, 12 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Nemani Nagusa (captain), 7 Vilive Miramira, 6 Jovesa Tamani, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Sorovakatini Tuifagalele, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto, 1 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa

Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Jone Koroiduadua, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Chris Minimbi, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Napolioni Bolaca, 23 Onisi Ratave

Western Force

15 Jake Strachan, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Ollie Callan, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Harrison Lloyd

Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Bo Abra, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Jackson Pugh, 20 Tim Anstee, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Grason Makara