What a beauty that was!
When all things are said and done, the result of the Fijian Drua v Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby clash turned heads on Friday night.
Given the fact that the majority of our players played their rugby in the domestic competition, it is actually going to be difficult to shrug aside how big the 31-26 win over the Rebels was.
In fact it is the stuff of dreams.
This is why fans will continue to hold on to hope every time the Drua run on to the field in their Super Rugby debut season.
This is it.
This is what Fijian traditional flair is all about.
When you add the vital mix of a structured game upfront, and work on such things as a defensive shape and throw in dashes of confidence, you are going to be pleasantly surprised sometimes.
Because in the end, traditional flair, pace and all that is positive about our game will come to nought if we can’t get possession.
On Friday night, the Drua obviously wanted the game more than the Rebels.
They tested the Rebels defence more often.
They battled for scraps of possession, dug in and contested the breakdowns.
They took on the Rebels’ set-pieces head-on.
They went in more confident in the second spell, and lived their dreams.
Skipper and blindside flanker Meli Derenalagi said a stern talking at half-time from coach Mick Byrne propelled the players to the historic 31-26 Super Rugby Pacific victory.
They trailed 0-14 and were a man down thanks to a yellow card before turning it on at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.
“The message to the boys was to step up and try to be competitive,” Derenalagi said.
“It was a good ripper speech and we went out and tried to lift our game in the first 20 minutes because it was a hard talk from our coach.”
Byrne said he was proud of how his players “stuck to their guns” and got the results they wanted.
He was happy with the hard carries and how the players got their “game going”.
“We’ve been training our game well. It’s just getting used to the physical nature of Super Rugby.”
While there were many standout players, openside flanker Vilive Miramira came off with a blinder from the fringes of a lineout and showed pace to get across the line in a breathtaking display of power and good peripheral vision.
Four second-half penalties to replacement five-eighth Teti Tela took the Drua to safety.
In fact it was quite pleasing to see Tela come off with a powerful and confident display on the night.
As the Drua now prepare to face the Queensland Reds next week at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Fijian fans will no doubt be buoyed by the confidence shown on Friday night.
They will be moved by the perseverance and commitment in the breakdowns and the willingness to contest the set pieces.
We say go Fijian Drua!
What a beauty!
