The Fijian Drua have defeated Melbourne Rebels 40-19 in their Round 15 Super Rugby Pacific clash in Lautoka to book Super Rugby Pacific finals ticket.
The Drua will meet Auckland Blues in the quarter finals on Saturday in Auckland.
Waqa Nalaga and Iosefo Masi crossed for doubles alongside Selestino Ravutaumada and Frank Lomani.
The visitors were sharp early via tries to Josh Canham, Andrew Kellaway and a penalty try but didn’t scored in the second half as the Drua jumped them into seventh place.
Melbourne already had their first ever spot in the competition’s quarter-finals locked down, but were keen to end a five-game losing streak.
The Drua had plenty to play for in front of a vocal home crowd at Churchill Park, with a win securing them a place in the eight-team play-offs and ending any chance for the Western Force.
Collecting a bonus point with the victory, the Drua leap-frogged the Rebels into seventh spot, with their last-eight rivals to be decided later in the round.
The sides were level 19-19 at halftime, with Melbourne’s tries coming from lock Josh Canham and Andrew Kellaway, who was a stand-out for the Australian side.
Test prop Taniela Tupou, playing his 100th Super match, also turned in a big shift for the Rebels.
Melbourne were awarded a penalty try when an offside Frank Lomani kicked the ball out of the maul as the Rebels worked it over the tryline. The Drua halfback was given a yellow card for his troubles.
But the Fijians hit back with three tries in the opening 12 minutes of the second half to blow their lead out by 21 points
Exciting young winger Waqa Nalaga bagged his second as the Drua took control of the match to the delight of the home crowd.
They were denied a late try by lock Mesake Vocevoce with the TMO giving a knock-on in the lead-up, but the near miss did little to quell the celebrations.
The Rebels travelled to Fiji without star playmaker Carter Gordon, who missed a second successive game due to concussion symptoms, with Jake Strachan starting at 10.
They are likely to be without skipper Rob Leota for the finals after the No.8 was forced off in the second half following an ugly head knock.
Meanwhile, Fijian Drua head coach also asserts that Frank Lomani read the game well and was instrumental overall.
“Frank’s strength is, you know, he’s got a lot of energy. He was playing against a team that likes to get under his skin. I thought he did well. He got a great turnover with force when they were attacking.”
Byrne says that was what they expected from Lomani, and he did just that last Saturday.
