The super rugby table tightened again on Saturday in Lautoka, where the Fijian Drua beat the Western Force 24-22 at Churchill Park. The result spoiled Zac Lomax’s Super Rugby Pacific debut and left the Force staring at a finish where every point matters. With the super rugby table still shifting, the Force are now in must-win territory if they want to stay in finals contention.
Drua hold firm when it mattered
The closing stages were tense, but the Drua stayed alive through a match that swung on discipline and execution. The Force had a late chance to win it, yet errors and ill-discipline proved costly in a game they let slip after spending long stretches in the contest. In a season where they have already left points on the table, this was another one that got away.
Virimi Vakatava stood out for the Drua after returning to Fiji with a big reputation and backing it up in his fourth game for the side. The former French international was a late inclusion, but he proved difficult to contain and gave the home team the kind of power and passing touch that opened space for Isikeli Basiyalo and Isikeli Rabitu.
Zac Lomax gives the Force a glimpse
There was still encouragement for the Force in Zac Lomax’s 20-minute debut. He took a clean high ball early in his stint and later showed a sharp attacking instinct when he found space and held the defence long enough for Ben Donaldson to clear, a move that helped lead to a Force five-pointer.
There were also signs of the work still ahead. Lomax was caught ball-watching at times, but the brief appearance was enough to show promise for supporters tracking his move closely. For the Force, though, the bigger issue was not one player’s debut but a result that leaves little margin for error in the super rugby table.
Accuracy decides a tight contest
Ben Donaldson’s afternoon was difficult, and the kicking battle became a major reason the Force could not finish the job. Donaldson and the Force combined to go 1/5 off the tee, with most of those attempts coming from the sidelines. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was not much better, but he did enough to help the Drua secure the win.
The missed chances mattered because the Force were close enough to punish the home side if they had been sharper in key moments. Instead, their season now moves into a stretch where results must turn quickly to avoid further damage in the super rugby table.
What comes next for the Force
The Force will remain in Australia for the rest of the competition after leaving Perth for a two-week trip along the east coast to face the Brumbies and Waratahs. They will then finish with four Australian derbies and the Drua, a run that now carries even more pressure after this narrow loss.
For the Drua, the win is another firm home statement at Churchill Park. For the Force, the message is sharper: the super rugby table has become unforgiving, and their next fixtures may decide whether the season stays alive or slips away.
