Super Rugby

The Reds winger earned a crucial penalty for the host to hold on to a 27-24 win over the Drua.

The Drua could have bagged a five pointer just five minutes into the match but Elia Canakaivata lost the ball just meters short of the tryline.

However, they still had the advantage and Frank Lomani nailed the penalty for a 3-0 lead.

Playing inside Fiji’s 22, James O’Connor puts the ball up high with which Suliasi Vunivalu won the aerial battle and kept the ball alive before being taken into touch.

That was the last time the Blues won the championship – 20 long years ago – but this match, won by the Crusaders 34-28, was a throwback to those times when this competition really meant something.

This, the Blues' first home game of the season, was ill-tempered, intense and highly relevant to the hopes of both teams.

In an extraordinary twist as the minutes ticked down, Blues’ lock James Tucker and No.8 Hoskins Sotutu were over for tries awarded by referee James Coleman but replays showed both lost the ball in the act of scoring.

The Pacific Super Rugby Round 4 clash will be a test of character for the Drua, who recorded the upset of the season so far with their 25-24 win over the champion Crusaders in Lautoka last weekend.

Head coach Mick Byrne told a media conference at the Drua's camp in Nadi, Fiji this week that the Reds will be very physical.

"They bring a physicality right across the board through the front row, the back row are hard men, and then out into the centres.

Pasifika lost beyond the final siren, 21-18 at HBF Park in Perth.

Western Force were awarded a scrum penalty after the final siren which Bryce Hegarty from eight metres in front off the sticks, scored to give the Western Australia side the victory.

"It's one we let slip," Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger admitted.

"We've got to be better in those moments. We couldn't execute our basics. It's hard to play when you're not catching the ball."

The scores were level at 18-18 in Saturday night's Super Rugby Pacific match when the Force had Ollie Callan red carded in the 73rd minute and Siosifa Amone also then sent off with a yellow three minutes later.

But instead of wilting under the numerical disadvantage, the 13-man Force pulled off a series of clutch plays at the death to secure the win in front of 6497 fans.

Fijian Drua

Beat Crusaders 25-24. Record: 2-1. Last ranking: 9. Table position: 5.

The Crusaders found that out the hard way on an absolute sweaty armpit of a day in Lautoka during this weekend's round of Super Rugby Pacific, losing on the last kick of a game they really had no right to win anyway.

This weekend has seen some very good rugby, but it belongs to the Drua. They've delivered on their promise to play an up-tempo style throughout their time in Super Rugby so far and nearly pulled off a couple of upsets last season.

Coach Mick Byrne says with the Drua coming off a loss against the Waratahs last week, the side is also hungry for a win as they want to put smiles on the faces of home fans.

FBC reports Byrne saying they had a disappointing final 20 minutes last week against the Waratahs, and this is an area they have worked on for this crucial first home game of the season.

Flying Fijians winger Eroni Sau will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut with the Drua in the game.

Photo credit Fijian Drua/Facebook

Don't get the Blues playmaker wrong, he has this year's Super Rugby competition at the forefront of his mind.

But, with Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett set to leave New Zealand after the global tournament, Perofeta could be forgiven for envisioning himself becoming the starting All Blacks first-five next year.

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about that.

"It will definitely be an opportunity when that time comes around. But, I don't want to put too much pressure on myself right now, worrying about what could happen in the future.

After a shock opening round loss, the Crusaders got their Super Rugby Pacific title defence back on track with a 52-15 thrashing of the Highlanders in Melbourne.

The Crusaders had seven different try-scorers in the win which was the first time the side had scored 50 points against their southern neighbours.

RNZ reports ahead 24-3 at halftime, the Crusaders were dominant despite the Highlanders being the first to score in the Super Round match.

The Highlanders scored two late tries to make the score slightly more respectable.