There was heartbreak in the final seconds for the Queensland Reds in Suva today with a last-gasp 36-33 loss to the Fijian Drua.
A tackle around the bootlaces out wide by replacement flyhalf Tom Lynagh and a pilfer at the breakdown by Seru Uru had appeared to be the right formula in the closing minutes to ice the seesawing clash in SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific.
The Reds were desperately clinging to a 33-29 lead at that point after thinking they may have done enough when replacement hooker Max Craig scored at the tail of a rolling maul in the 72nd minute.
Instead, an absorbing spectacle with six lead changes came down to a bobbling loose ball in the final seconds which the Fijians seized deep in the Reds quarter.
Replacement back Isikeli Rabitu speared over to clinch the result for the Fijians who were energised all afternoon by a big home crowd.
The Reds will take away a single bonus point from the loss after imagining so much more was possible when they made a strong rally from 29-19 down in the second half.
The Reds had seven of their eight reserves on when they struck back in the 61st minute when replacement prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen plunged over on a pick-and-go play.
The play completed textbook build-up with reserve halfback Kalani Thomas having kicked to touch deep in the Fijian quarter and the pressure telling with a crooked Drua lineout throw.
More pressure produced a rolling maul try for Craig, who scored a five-pointer in his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench.
Winger Lachie Anderson was a standout for the Reds. He was pushing in the maul for the Craig try but more traditional was his involvement in the try late in the first half to give the Reds a 19-15 lead.
He’d taken the ball up strongly on the right wing. By the time the move’s momentum was having a telling effect, he was the left edge to dish an excellent final pass to Uru for the try.
The skilful Uru was another standout in a match of great meaning in front of his Fijian family and friends.
The Reds were behind 5-0 early until Uru produced a superb one-handed offload to put fullback Campbell over.
The Reds gained great value from their 5m lineout drives with hookers Richie Asiata and Craig both scoring from well-executed surges.
Credit must also go to the Drua who produced one of their best displays of the season.
The Reds will regroup ahead of next Friday’s clash against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
FIJIAN DRUA 36
Tries: Taniela Rakuro, Mesake Doge, Etonia Waqa, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Tuwai, Isikeli Rabitu
Conversions: Isiah Armstrong-Ravula 3
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 33
Tries: Jock Campbell, Richie Asiata, Seru Uru, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Max Craig
Conversions: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 2, Tom Lynagh 2
Half-time: Reds 19-Drua 15
Venue: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
