FIJIAN Drua created history as they booked their spot in the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time after smashing the Reds 41-17 behind an inspired second-half performance.
The bumper Fijian crowd were brought to their feet early on as Selestino Ravutaumada’s charge-down try got proceedings started inside two minutes.
But the Reds hit back with scores from Ryan Smith and James O’Connor before Vilive Miramira’s try saw the two sides go into half-time level.
However, as we’ve seen countless times this season, the harsh Fijian conditions caught up with the visitors in the second half.
The hosts piled on 24 unanswered points with tries from Mesake Doge, Tevita Ikanivere and Joseva Tamani to seal their fifth win from six home games this season and punch their ticket to the quarter-finals where they will travel to Christ church looking to provide an almighty upset to the Crusaders.
“They’ve become dedicated to becoming professionals,” Drua head coach Mick Byrne said.
“All the little things that sometimes pros take for granted but these boys had never done it before. They deserve everything they’ve got tonight and we’re taking it all in.”
Moana Pasifika added to the Pacific Island joy as they played spoiler to Michael Hooper’s Sydney swansong, dismantling the Waratahs 33-24 for a first win of the season.
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