Rugby World Stunned by Fijian’s ‘Mind-Boggling’ Decision: A Rare Moment We May Never Witness Again

This piece was originally published by Stuff and is reproduced with permission

It’s clear that the Chiefs aren’t in need of assistance from overly generous opponents.

So, what was Fijian Drua fullback Ilaisa Droasese thinking when he pulled off what can only be described as one of the most questionable decisions in Super Rugby history during his team’s 42-22 defeat against the Chiefs on Sunday?

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Droasese, having retrieved a loose ball in the in-goal area, decided to run it out, only to end up grubber-kicking to himself while attempting a counter-attack at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

Chiefs prop Jared Proffit, however, was on hand to pounce on the loose ball with his forearm, leaving the Drua, who had been holding their own until that point, utterly deflated under their posts.

“This was just bizarre… it’s something we may never witness again. I’m at a loss for words,” was the response of fellow commentator Jeff Wilson, while Australian Morgan Turinui suggested Droasese might have thought the Chiefs had knocked on just beforehand.

Up until Droasese’s unintentional assist, the Drua—looking for their first three-match winning streak in Super Rugby—were very much in the hunt against the competition giants.

Trailing by just 14-10 with four minutes to go in the first half, they were proving to be a nuisance to the pre-season favourites with their solid defence and powerful running.

However, instead of heading into the break within striking distance, the Chiefs scored once more through halfback Cortez Ratima mere moments after Proffit’s try, extending their lead to 28-10.

It’s hard to envision Droasese facing head coach Glen Jackson as they headed to the sheds for halftime.

Unfortunately for him, his troubles were far from over.

Droasese faltered with another kick early in the second half near his goal line, giving the Chiefs a scrum just 5m out.

The Chiefs wasted no time in converting this error into points with a slick short-side play, finished off by winger Daniel Sinkinson.

In an instant, the score ballooned to 35-10, effectively sealing the game as the Chiefs quickly capitalised on their opponents’ mistakes.

It’s remarkable to think that the Drua had been a different team just moments earlier in the first half, even scoring first in the match.

That opener came from prop Mesake Doge, who charged over to complete an impressive 17-phase move, which showcased spectacular offloads and tough carries near the line.

The Chiefs’ hooker, Brodie McAlister, levelled the scores for his side before leaving the field with a calf injury, followed by a set-piece move executed perfectly in training, which saw in-form midfielder Quinn Tupaea cross for a try moments later.

In addition to McAlister’s exit, All Black winger Leroy Carter sustained an injury to his leg in the second half, just ahead of their upcoming bye week.

Fullback Isaac Hutchinson, a product of Canterbury and former member of the Crusaders’ wider training squad, made an impressive debut after recovering from a serious knee injury sustained during club rugby in Christchurch last year.

Hutchinson nearly secured a try and was crucial in preventing a score by executing a desperate tackle on Frank Lomani, who looked certain to dot down after intercepting a pass and sprinting towards the corner flag.

To their credit, the Drua lifted their spirits after the difficult moments around halftime, scoring two impressive tries to narrow the gap to 35-22 and pose a threat to the Chiefs’ bonus point.

The first of these was particularly noteworthy, as replacement hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua broke through a tackle attempt by Wallace Sititi and sprinted 30 metres to reach the line.

But in the end, the Chiefs did enough to secure all five competition points, setting the stage for a thrilling race with the Hurricanes and Blues for the top seed in the concluding five rounds.