Fijian Drua duo red carded for TWO atrocious acts as chaos ensued against Rebels

Dylan Coetzee
Fijian Drua players received red cards for dangerous acts.

Fijian Drua players received red cards for dangerous acts.

Fijian Drua scrum-half Frank Lomani received a red card for a violent elbow during their 41-20 loss to the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday.

Lomani’s incident came in the 58th minute when play was called back with nothing obvious seen in the build-up, but that was not the case when the footage was re-watched.

The replay revealed the scrum-half dangerously elbowing a Rebels player in the back of the head behind a ruck. The contact was with force and is an act that would not have even been allowed in a boxing ring yet despite it being so blatant Lomani ridiculously still tried to argue the decision after being shown red.

Lomani, as it turns out, was not the only Fijian to lose their head as replacement Jone Koroiduadua was sent off with five minutes to go after headbutting an opponent after conceding a scrum penalty in another disgraceful act.

There was also another card earlier on when second-row Leone Rotuisolia was sin-binned, triggering a massive collapse where Drua conceded 33 unanswered points.

Click here for scorers

It was actually the Drua who started the game strongly with fly-half Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula opening the scoring with a penalty after 10 minutes before Lomani went over for an unconverted try four minutes later.

Carter Gordon would bring three points back for his side in the 20th minute before the teams traded unconverted tries from Apisalome Vota for the Drua and Angelo Smith for the Rebels by the 29th minute.

Drua managed to respond with another try, this time through Rotuisola, which was converted before the try scorer was sin-binned minutes later, opening the door for a late Rebels try from Jordan Uelese on the stroke of half-time. Gordon added the extras to leave his side within five points going into the sheds.

It was all Rebels from there as they added another converted try just two minutes into the second period from Glenn Vaihu, which was backed up by a Maciu Nabolakasi score just five minutes later. Gordon slotted more points from the tee as the Rebels suddenly had a healthy buffer.

The lead was made greater thanks to another Vaihu score which was followed soon after by Lomani’s brain fade red card. The Rebels continued to turn the screw as the Drua panicked leading to a Filipo Daugunu try in the 70th minute that served as a great reward for a strong shift.

Koroiduadua’s red card was the final major incident of the game as the Rebels ran out as deserved victors after the Drua completely threw the game away.

The teams

Rebels: 15 Nick Jooste, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Maciu Nabolakasi, 6 Angelo Smith, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Sam Talakai (c), 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Matt Gibbon
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Daniel Maiava, 20 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Mason Gordon

Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Apisalome Vota, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Meli Derenalagi (c), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Waqa Nalaga, 23 Taniela Rakuro

READ MORE: Blues’ All Blacks contingent shine as they put Western Force to the sword

Fiji Frank Lomani

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Related Articles