The Fijian Drua were expected to be entertaining and interesting in their first season of Super Rugby Pacific.
They weren’t supposed to claim their first scalp in round three with a win against the Rebels, and then go within a whisker of beating the best team in Australia.
But that’s exactly what has transpired for Mick Byrne’s spirited squad, who sing beautiful hymns in the changing room and then, just like the Drua Super W side, dazzle on the park.
Watch every game of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport. Sign up for your free seven day trial!
Drua speedster torches the Reds
The Queensland Reds appeared to be in cruise control up 28-9 with 15 minutes to play at Suncorp Stadium.
But the Drua came storming back with tries to Onisi Ratave, Joseva Tamani and Vinaya Habosi to draw level before Fijian-born Seru Uru made two game-winning plays in Saturday night’s 33-28 triumph.
“The Reds are the victors but the Drua are the story,” former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said in commentary for Nine and Stan Sport.
READ MORE: Lawsuit threat that triggered ‘never seen before’ card chaos
READ MORE: Why Cheika couldn’t say no to Argentina Rugby World Cup challenge
READ MORE: Super Rugby champions stunned by Chiefs in crazy comeback
Three yellow cards in one break in play
“That is a sounding warning to this competition. The Fijian Drua are a force to be reckoned with.”
One of two expansion teams along with Moana Pasifika, the Drua were supposed to be based in Suva before COVID-19 scuppered that plan.
Instead they set up camp in the unlikely town of Lennox Head and have made progress, not excuses.
Drua’s beautiful pre-game hymn
“Truthfully, when you looked at how they’d prepared for the season, they cobbled together their side and their coaching group and how late you put together a Super Rugby team, group, programme, staff together – it’s not disrespect to say that we didn’t expect too much early from the Drua,” Turinui said.
“We talked about them building into the season, getting better and better but I am in awe of what they’ve achieved thus far and excited to see what’s next.”
It was a particularly special night for Uru, the quick thinking blindside flanker who was tipped as a Wallabies bolter last year.
Uru scored the decisive try in the 79th minute and then read the hooker’s eyes for a clutch lineout steal as the Drua launched a final raid on the Reds line.
A pumped-up Uru was wearing a Fijian flag on his chest for Queensland’s Pasifika round, picking up his gutted opponents and kissing them on the head.
“I was a bit emotional playing against my home country but I never doubted the boys playing for the Fijian Drua,” Uru told Nine and Stan Sport.
“I always carry the Fiji flag with me and it was a good, physical game against the brothers.”
NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney and Andrew Mehrtens are joined by Ireland’s surprise new Aussie star Mack Hansen and pick their ‘Weird Cat XV.’ Subscribe here!
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Australian rugby greats share classic stories and relive major controversies on Stan Sport’s Glory Days series
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
