{"id":372119,"date":"2024-03-02T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=372119"},"modified":"2024-03-02T10:02:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T10:02:32","slug":"thirteen-man-side-nab-stunning-upset-after-almighty-scare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=372119","title":{"rendered":"Thirteen-man side nab stunning upset after 'almighty scare'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moana Pasifika have beaten the Fijian Drua<\/a> for the first time in Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> history despite being down to 13 men at the death.<\/p>\n

The Tana Umaga-led outfit ultimately edged out Mick Byrne's men, winning 39-36 at AAMI Park.<\/p>\n

At one point, Moana Pasifika led 36-15 but were dealt two big blows when Nigel Ah Wong copped a red card for a no-arms tackle with no mitigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, with<\/strong><\/em> every match ad-free, live and and on demand on Stan Sport<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Sekope Kepu, making his return to Super Rugby Pacific for the first time since 2022, got a stiff yellow card for being off-side on his own try line.<\/p>\n

\"Fijian<\/p>\n

Still, the Pacific Island all-comers held on despite a massive comeback from the Drua.<\/p>\n

"They get the business done in the end, but they were given an almighty scare," said Stan Sport commentator Jeff McTainsh.<\/p>\n

"What a comeback by the Fijian Drua against the Moana Pasifika side who at one stage were playing with 13."'<\/p>\n

AS IT HAPPENED:<\/strong> New Zealand v Australia first Test day three<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Not worried': Ricciardo shrugs off Bahrain 'disappointment'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Justin Harrison hailed the coming-of-age moment for Moana Pasifika in what is year three for the team in the competition.<\/p>\n

"That's the journey this Moana Pasifika side have been on now," said Harrison on Stan Sport's coverage.<\/p>\n

"Fijian Drua, coming into Super Rugby Pacific comp found their feet a bit quicker.\u00a0They've got the national team and identity and cohesion.<\/p>\n

"Moana Pasifika have taken a little bit longer. They've been pulled together now, they've got some real style about them."<\/p>\n

\"Fijian<\/p>\n

Joe Wheeler chimed in, "Don't they have some steel, don't they have some backbone, character, attitude, commitment? Down to 13 men, unbelievable; the character of this team.<\/p>\n

"Defended for the last 20 minutes of that game. Somehow came away with the win. What a game. What an absolute performance from that side."<\/p>\n

On balance, Moana were the better side in the first half. As the break approached, the ledge read eight points apiece until a try just after the hooter gave them a 15-8 lead.<\/p>\n

Sione Mafileo and Lotu Inisi were the try scorers for Moana in the first half while Elia Canakaivata got the Drua's sole try in the first half.<\/p>\n

The Drua might have had the advantage going into the break if not for a knock-on picked up by the TMO early on in a field-length try.<\/p>\n

\"Fantastic<\/p>\n

The second half was chaotic from start to finish. Henry Taefu scored less than a minute in to extend the Moana advantage.<\/p>\n

Another storming run from Selestino Ravutaumada saw the Drua respond almost immediately in the 47th minute.<\/p>\n

Sam Moli and Abraham Pole scored within two minutes of each other in the 55th and 57th, giving Moana Pasifika a massive lead.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1763834270689198346<\/a><\/p>\n

Then a flurry of mistakes brought the Drua back into the game. An ugly tackle from N\ufeffigel Ah Wong was yellow initially and upgraded to red.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With a little over 10 minutes to go, Super Rugby Pacific returnee S\ufeffekope Kepu infringed on the goal line and was sent to the sin bin.<\/p>\n

With just 13 men on the field, the Drua made the most of their opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elia Canakaivata scored his second try and was quickly followed in by Epeli Momo and debutant Junior Ratava.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1763836520698728936<\/a><\/p>\n

With the scores at 39-36, the Drua had all the momentum. However, mistakes at the death proved costly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A fumbled ball landed in the hands of Moana Pasifika and it was kicked into touch, giving them their first win over the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific.<\/p>\n

Moana Pasifika will face the Melbourne Rebels in round three while the Fijian Drua take on the Crusaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Moana Pasifika have beaten the Fijian Drua for the first time in Super Rugby Pacific history despite being down to 13 men at the death. […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":372121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372119"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=372119"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":372125,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372119\/revisions\/372125"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/372121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=372119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=372119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=372119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}