Fijian Drua became the first Pacific Island-based team to reach the Super Rugby knockout stages Saturday, setting up a blockbuster quarter-final against defending champions Canterbury Crusaders.
Drua scored six tries in a rampant 41-17 win in Suva over the Queensland Reds, who despite losing remain alive after Western Force crashed 43-19 in their must-win match against the table-topping Waikato Chiefs in Perth.
That defeat meant the Reds finished eighth and now travel to Hamilton next week for an ominous meeting with the Chiefs, who have won all but one game this year.
Roared on by a passionate crowd, Drua produced the most commanding of their six wins this season, lifting them from 10th to seventh in the standings.
Their victory eliminated the Otago Highlanders, who started the weekend in contention but suffered a major blow with defeat to the Auckland Blues on Friday evening.
The Crusaders finished the regular season ranked second despite crashing 27-26 to the Wellington Hurricanes, who stayed fifth and will meet the fourth-placed ACT Brumbies in a Canberra quarter-final.
It was a fifth home win in six matches for Drua, who were introduced to the newly named Super Rugby Pacific last year, alongside Moana Pasifika who include players with Samoan and Tongan heritage.
The two newcomers held the bottom two places in 2022 and while Moana continued to struggle this season, Drua have unleashed an exciting brand of attacking rugby.
Some players were in tears after the full-time whistle and their effort was praised by captain Meli Derenalagi.
"You can see how happy we are right now," he said. "Hats off to the soldiers behind me for carrying out their duty today.
"Thanks for the crowd coming out in numbers. They've supported us throughout the season, that's why we played our hearts out today."
The Reds led 17-12 late in the first half thanks to tries to forwards Ryan Smith and Fraser McReight but did not score again.
- 'Bad on all fronts' -
Despite wet conditions, the hosts scored three tries in each half, with fullback Selestino Ravutaumada setting the scene with an early score from a charge down.
The game was still in the balance entering the final quarter before hooker Tevita Ikanivere and flanker Joseva Tamani scored.
In a later match, the Crusaders appeared in control, 19-8 ahead going into the second half, but the Hurricanes dominated the closing stages, with tries to Cam Roigard, Josh Moorby and Brayden Iose.
In Perth, the Chiefs rested All Blacks Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Damian McKenzie, but such is the depth of their squad that even a second-string side was too good for Force.
They scored four tries to open up a 29-7 half-time lead and there was no way back.
In the day's other game, Moana Pasifika stunned the NSW Waratahs 33-24 in Sydney -- their first win from 14 games this season.
NSW were already assured of a quarter-final spot but it ruined Michael Hooper's last home match for his long-time club.
"It was bad on all fronts," Waratahs coach Darren Coleman said. "It was bad for Hoops to finish like that. It was bad for momentum into the play-offs."
dgi-mp/qan
