WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Fijian Drua may have their last chance of sealing a playoff spot in Super Rugby Pacific when they meet the Queensland Reds in Suva on Saturday with three rounds remaining in the regular season.
The Drua have won all but one of their home matches so far this season, losing only to the then top-ranked Hurricanes in round nine. But they have not yet won away from home this year and after Saturday’s match they have an away match against the Dunedin-based Highlanders and a home match against Melbourne Rebels.
The Drua enter the weekend in eighth place on the championship standings, two points clear of Western Force and six points behind the Highlanders. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
Last week’s 48-10 loss to the Force in Perth was perhaps the low point of the season for the Fijians, and head coach Mick Byrne said the Drua can’t afford any more “slip-ups” if they are to make the quarterfinals.
He said after the setbacks early last season the Drua “forced our way” into the top eight very late.
“Now we’re in the top eight and it’s totally in our control,” Byrne said.
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The Reds are in fifth place after last weekend’s 26-22 win over the sixth-place Rebels. They are seven points behind the fourth-placed Chiefs and also face a must-win Saturday if they are to break into the top four. The first four teams after the regular season take home advantage into the first round of playoffs.
“We’re not watching the ladder intently and getting hijacked by it, but we know every win we put on the board puts pressure on other people,” Reds head coach Les Kiss said. “Get this win, it makes things possible.”
Kiss has made numerous changes to his lineup for Saturday’s match, having to replace bustling No. 8 Harry Wilson because of a season-ending broken arm and handing a Super Rugby starting debut to Floyd Aubrey on the wing.
“I’m a big believer in giving young players a go when they are good,” Kiss said. “Tim Ryan has been proving that but it’s also about managing their exposure the right way at this level. He’ll (Ryan) have the chance to attack this game from the bench.”
Ryan has scored six tries in two matches since he was handed his debut against the Auckland-based Blues.
Byrne also has chosen a player on debut, naming 20-year-old Waqa Nalaga at center.
The Blues will defend first place for the first time this season when they play the Highlanders in Auckland on Saturday. They leapt into first place with last weekend’s 31-27 win over the Hurricanes.
All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali’i cautioned the Blues against complacency.
“I’ve been here before (in first place) and we’ve choked in the finals,” Papali’i said. “Everyone’s going to be at us.”
The second-place Hurricanes travel to Auckland to face Moana Pasifika, the third-place Brumbies host the defending champion Crusaders in Canberra, and the fourth-place Chiefs will play the Rebels on Friday.
The late season rally expected from the Christchurch-based Crusaders has not eventuated and they will start the 13th round in 11th place.
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney issued a public apology to fans after last weekend’s 32-29 loss to the Highlanders. He assured fans the Crusaders players have not given up.
“The evidence just needs to be more obvious for the supporters and the public to see that the boys are really willing to do what they need to do to get the outcome or the performance that we would love to have,” Penney said. “I’d just apologize to everyone.”
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