Waratahs give Fijian Drua a rude awakening
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC REPORT: The Waratahs gave newcomers Fijian Drua a rude awakening in their first venture into the Trans-Tasman competition - beating them 40-10 in the Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, on Friday.
Outscoring the Pacific Islanders by five tries to one, the Tahs recorded their first win since August 2020.
The Sydney outfit failed to win a single game in 2021, showing just how far Drua has to go in the new competition.
Backing up their impressive unbeaten pre-season run, the Waratahs banished at least some of the bitter memories of last year's humiliating winless campaign.
The bonus-point triumph snapped a 13-match losing streak stretching some 538 days since the Waratahs beat the Melbourne Rebels in their final game of the 2020 Super Rugby AU season.
For how long remains to be seen, but the big win also elevated the Waratahs into unfamiliar territory as early competition leaders.
With high hopes of crashing the Waratahs' party, the Drua must have felt right at home in steamy, Suva-like conditions before kick-off as an army of Fijian fans flooded through stadium gates for the historic encounter.
The Fijian fanatics were treated to an emotion-charged performance of 'Na Bole' from the Drua, a spiritual pre-game war dance designed to steel the competition debutants for battle.
It looked to have done the trick early.
Renowned for their flamboyance, the Drua also brought physicality to the equation as inspired captain and No.8 Nemani Nagusa engaged in a set-to with Waratahs hardman Lachie Swinton.
As promised, though, the Waratahs, intent on not falling into any Fiji-style razzle-dazzle, were happy to take the first points on offer through the trusty boot of flyhalf Ben Donaldson.
The Tahs' first try, in the 13th minute, then came through old-fashioned pick and driving with Will Harris burrowing over next to the posts and Donaldson making it 10-0.
Donaldson kept the scoreboard ticking over with two more penalties before hooker David Forecki cashed in on a strong Waratahs driving maul.
Struggling at set-piece, the Drua's only points of the half came from a Baden Kerr penalty as the home team took a commanding 21-3 lead to the break.
If there was any doubt about the Waratahs going on with the job, they were dispelled barely a minute into the second half when prop Angus Bell offloaded like a playmaker to put Lalakai Foketi over in the corner.
The Drua's No.1 was more dumb bell a minute later, loosehead Jone Koroiduadua yellow-carded for a foolish lifting clean-out on Porecki to leave the Fijians a man short for 10 minutes.
Bell crossed himself when the Drua were a player down, while skipper Jake Gordon capped his man-of-the-match display with a runaway intercept effort.
Nagusa deservedly had the distinction of scoring the Drua's historic first try in the competition in the 62nd minute but his side, while spirited, was no match for the Waratahs in their maiden outing at Super Rugby level.
The scorers
For the Waratahs
Tries: Harris, Porecki, Foketi, Bell, Gordon
Cons: Donaldson 3
Pens: Donaldson 3
For Fijian Drua
Try: Nagusa
Con: Kerr
Pen: Kerr
Yellow cards: Jone Koroiduadua (Drua, 44 - foul play, tip tackle), Tiaan Tauakipulu (Waratahs, 80 - repeated infringements, collapsing scrum)
Teams
WARATAHS: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 James Turner, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachie Swinton, 5 Geoff Cridge, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Jamie Roberts.
FIJIAN DRUA: 15 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 14 Kitione Ratu, 13 Apisalome Vota, 12 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Baden Kerr, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Nemani Nagusa (captain), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Jone Koroiduadua.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Timoci Sauvoli, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Viliame Rarasea, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Onisi Ratave.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Matt Keelhaul