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The noise told you all you needed to know. For the second time this season, a New Zealand powerhouse has been tamed. Two months after the Crusaders were slayed at home, the Hurricanes fell in Suva as the Drua sealed a famous win 27-24.
Just like back in round three, Kemu Valetini – the brother of Wallabies star, Rob – was the hero.
The replacement playmaker banged over a penalty from out wide to give the Drua a narrow lead – and ultimately the match – after a frantic game that had everything.
For those not disillusioned by Super Rugby, you might have thought the competition was thriving.
It’s not, but the Drua have breathed life into the competition in what has been the best addition in two decades.
“We’re glad we’re back … to the crowd who came out in numbers today, we could feel you in the crowd today and that was for you too,” captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere said.
“We’re fighting for a spot in the quarter-finals and we’ve got to come home in those two home games.”
Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea, who had hoped to celebrate his older brother’s 150th match in style to go along with Julian’s record-equalling 60th Super Rugby try, heaped praise on the Drua.
“We always knew it was going to be tough and I think we just weren’t good enough,” Savea said.
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“The Drua came out and they played, and they played for the whole 80 and they put us under a lot of pressure and they just capitalised. It was hard to defend, and we just weren’t good enough.
“The crowd was awesome regardless that we were playing and they were supporting the Drua. That’s not an excuse for us, we just weren’t good enough. But we weren’t good enough because the Drua were awesome and put us under a lot of pressure. They’re very dangerous, very scary.”
The Drua took a 7-5 lead into the break but they could have easily led by another couple of tries.
While Taniela Rakuro scored a fine try out, Frank Lomani missed two penalties and blew a golden opportunity on the stroke of half time when he lost possession centimeters short of the line.
Some desperate defence had earlier helped the Hurricanes stay alive, before Julian Savea scored out wide to narrow the margin.
The Drua’s frustrations were compounded when Savea had his second try just two minutes into the second half, but Jordie Barrett’s second missed conversion meant the Hurricanes only led 10-7.
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Rakuro hit back immediately for the Drua to score his second after a stunning offload from Iosefo Masi.
The Hurricanes looked like they had found some rhythm when Xavier Numia was awarded a try despite looking to drop it over the line, before Du’Plessis extended the visitors lead.
But the Drua never went away as Ratu Meli Derenalagi scored midway through the second half to bring the home side back into the match.
Valetini levelled the game in the 75th minute with a long range strike, before stepping up out wide after Isaia Walker-Leawere was shown a second yellow card for cynical play to land the match-winning blow.
The victory saw the Drua move into seventh spot on 17 points, while the defeat was a blow to the Hurricanes’ top two ambitions despite their losing bonus point seeing them join the Brumbies in second on 32 points.
