The NSW Waratahs have secured back-to-back victories to start a Super Rugby Pacific season for the first time since 2014, fighting their way to a dramatic 29-24 win over the Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Key moments:
10′ – Drua score first through Loganimasi after turnover (Drua 7-0)
13′ – Gleeson responds for Waratahs (7-7)
16′ – Former Waratah Karawalevu scores spectacular try (Drua 12-7)
36′ – Gleeson scores second try from Gordon kick (Waratahs 17-12)
43′ – Porecki extends lead with rolling maul try (Waratahs 22-12)
55′ – Amatosero yellow card gives Drua advantage
60′ – Loganimasi scores his second try (Waratahs 22-19)
66′ – Dolokoto puts Drua in front (Drua 24-22)
76′ – Penalty try awarded to Waratahs after maul infringement (Waratahs 29-24)
77′ – Salawa yellow carded in crucial final minutes
In sweltering 30-degree Sydney conditions, Dan McKellar’s men survived a late scare to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, though they were pushed to the limit by a Drua side still searching for their first win of the campaign.
The match delivered everything expected from this fixture – explosive running rugby, moments of individual brilliance, and no shortage of controversy – culminating in a penalty try that proved the difference between the teams.
Playing without code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who missed the match with a toe injury, the Waratahs initially struggled to contain the Drua’s expansive style. Despite having the majority of early possession, it was the visitors who struck first in the 10th minute when loose ball from a scrappy ruck was scooped up by Meli Derenalagi, who released winger Ponipate Loganimasi to race away untouched for the opening score.
The Waratahs’ response was swift and clinical. After opting for a lineout from a penalty in front of the posts, they executed a well-worked set piece that saw number eight Langi Gleeson crash over from close range just three minutes later, with Tane Edmed’s conversion levelling the scores.
But the Drua weren’t finished with their first-half fireworks. Former Waratah Vuate Karawalevu delivered a moment of individual brilliance in the 16th minute, turning Darby Lancaster inside out before bamboozling Andrew Kellaway with dazzling footwork and finishing acrobatically in the corner to restore the Fijians’ lead.
As temperatures soared, both teams struggled with handling in the humid conditions. The Waratahs’ scrum established clear dominance, earning several penalties, while their defence withstood repeated waves of Fijian attack. Their persistence was rewarded when Edmed slotted a penalty to narrow the gap to 12-10 after 25 minutes.
The hosts took the lead shortly before half-time through Gleeson’s second try – a bizarre score that came after Jake Gordon’s speculative chip kick was chased down by Max Jorgensen, who tackled Drua fly-half Caleb Muntz into surrendering possession just metres from the line, allowing Gleeson to pounce on the loose ball.
The Waratahs extended their advantage shortly after the break when hooker Dave Porecki, returning after missing all of last season through injury, crashed over from a rolling maul, though Edmed’s conversion attempt struck the upright, leaving the score at 22-12.
The match swung dramatically when Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute for cynical play near his own line. The Drua immediately capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Loganimasi crossing for his second try after some brilliant handling stretched the depleted Waratahs defence.
With momentum firmly behind them, the Fijians seized the lead in the 66th minute when reserve hooker Mesulame Dolokoto peeled away from a driving maul to score. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula’s conversion struck the post, but the Drua now led 24-22 with under 15 minutes remaining.
As tension mounted in the closing stages, the Waratahs mounted one final assault. A powerful rolling maul led by replacement hooker Mahe Vailanu in the 76th minute was illegally collapsed by the Drua defence, prompting referee Angus Mabey to award a penalty try and send Kitione Salawa to the sin bin – a double blow that ultimately decided the contest.
In chaotic scenes that epitomised the match, the Drua took a quick kick-off and appeared to score while Mabey was still showing Salawa the yellow card. The referee called play back, and despite a desperate final attack from the 14-man Drua, the Waratahs held on for a victory that maintains their perfect start to the season.
For the Drua, it marks a third consecutive narrow defeat to start their campaign, leaving their playoff hopes in jeopardy in a competition where only six teams will qualify for the finals. After losses of 36-32 to the Brumbies and 38-34 to the Hurricanes, this 29-24 defeat continues their heartbreaking start to the season.
Langi Gleeson was outstanding for the Waratahs, finishing with a double and demonstrating why he remains in the Wallabies selection frame ahead of this year’s British and Irish Lions series. With a game-high nine carries at half-time and solid defensive work, he proved to be the difference-maker in a tightly contested battle.
The absence of Suaalii was noticeable for the Waratahs, particularly in the aerial battle and physical presence in the backline. The former NRL star’s toe injury forced a reshuffle that saw Kellaway shift to fullback with Darby Lancaster and Max Jorgensen on the wings, while Henry O’Donnell debuted alongside Lalakai Foketi in midfield.
For the Drua, Armstrong-Ravula impressed after replacing Muntz, bringing new life to their attack with intelligent kicking and creative playmaking. Karawalevu’s spectacular try showcased the flair and individual brilliance that has made the Fijian side such a thrilling addition to the competition.
The result leaves the Waratahs with two wins from two matches, already matching their entire win total from last season. They’ll host the Western Force in round four, while the Drua face a must-win home fixture against the Chiefs next week as they search for their first victory of the season in a competition that already appears challenging with the reduction to just six playoff spots following the Melbourne Rebels’ departure from the league.
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