Blues full-back Zarn Sullivan caught the eye with a fine offload in his team’s 30-14 victory over the Fijian Drua in their Super Rugby Pacific encounter in Lautoka on Saturday.
After a difficult start, in which the Blues had to wait until the 25th minute to take the lead via a Beauden Barrett penalty, the match came alive shortly afterwards when Sullivan ran onto a pass from Finlay Christie on the edge of the home side’s 22.
His progress was halted by a couple of Drua defenders but he managed to free his arms and threw an inside pass to the on-rushing Rieko Ioane, who powered past two defenders before crossing the whitewash.
Can't slow down Rieko 😤#SuperRugbyPacific #DRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/pVEuGYLmCK
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 29, 2023
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Barrett slotted the resulting conversion before Harry Plummer added a penalty to give the visitors a 13-0 lead by the 33rd minute.
The Drua needed a response and that came shortly afterwards when Elia Canakaivata went over for a try which was converted by Teli Tela, but the Blues finished stronger after Cameron Suafoa scored their second converted try which gave them a 20-7 lead at half-time.
The Auckland-based side continued their dominance after the interval when Dalton Papali’i went over for their third converted five-pointer during the early stages of the second half.
The next 20 minutes was an arm wrestle as the Drua tried to get back into the game and they were eventually rewarded in the 67th minute when Canakaivata dotted down for the second time.
With time running out on the clock neither side would cross the whitewash again but the Blues sealed their win in the 72nd minute when Barrett succeeded with a penalty.
Video credit: Super Rugby Pacific