The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua suffered a heartbreaking loss after the Melbourne Rebels came from behind to beat them 26-21 in their final pre-season match this afternoon.
The Rebels scored a last minute unconverted try to defend their home turf.
The Drua scored three tries to Rebels' 1 converted try in the first spell to lead 21-7 at halftime.
Hooker Zuriel Togiatama, lock Etonia Waqa and flanker Elia Canakaivata scored a try each with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula successfully converting all the tries.
The Rebels started well in the second half with another converted try in the 52nd minute to close the gap to 21-14.
The home side scored another converted try in the 75th minute to lock the score at 21-all.
The Drua lost focus in the final minutes of the game allowing the Rebels to score the winning try in the final minute of the game.
The Drua will now turn their focus to next week when they take on the Blues at 3.35pm next Saturday in Auckland in their first match of the 2024 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition.
In other pre-season matches today, the Hurricanes thrashed Moana Pasifika 59-26 and the Highlanders beat the defending champions Crusaders 41-17.
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