Close Menu
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies
  • Super Rugby
    • ACT Brumbies
    • Blues
    • Chiefs
    • Crusaders
    • Fijian Drua
    • Highlanders
    • Hurricanes
    • Moana Pasifika
    • NSW Waratahs
    • Queensland Reds
    • Western Force
  • Six Nations
  • Women’s
  • Sevens
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Friday’s Rugby News.

May 9, 2025

Lions Squad Named Tonight.

May 8, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – the final countdown

May 8, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
Latest News
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Lions Squad Named Tonight.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the final countdown
  • Yowie on the Loose: almost too much rugby news
  • Dementia and CTE: differences, similarities and impact
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #68: that was certainly unpredictable.
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – adults running the show
  • 2025 Super Rugby Rd 12 — G&GR’s teams podcast
  • The Dropped Kick-Off 153 – Schmeal – Les Kiss from a Rose
  • Hump Day News – in from the side
  • New Wallabies coach finally confirmed!
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News – 29 April 2025
  • Your G&GR Wallabies Squad.
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #67: another cracking round of Super Rugby Pacific – ANZAC Day style.
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • 2025 Super Rugby Rd 11 — G&GR’s teams podcast
  • Nutta on a Thursday – ANZAC 2025
  • Culture club.
Green & Gold Rugby
0 Shopping Cart
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies

    Tuesday’s Rugby News

    February 25, 2025

    G&GR readers hate Australians?

    February 23, 2025

    Schmidt extends Wallabies tenure through TRC as search for head coach successor begins

    February 6, 2025

    Tickets on sale for blockbuster Wallaroos and Wallabies home Tests

    February 5, 2025

    Tuesday’s Rugby News, 4 February 2025

    February 4, 2025
  • Super Rugby
    1. ACT Brumbies
    2. Blues
    3. Chiefs
    4. Crusaders
    5. Fijian Drua
    6. Highlanders
    7. Hurricanes
    8. Moana Pasifika
    9. NSW Waratahs
    10. Queensland Reds
    11. Western Force
    12. View All

    Brumbies lob first grenade.

    March 19, 2025

    Hoodoo Gurus: Brumbies beat Blues.

    March 8, 2025

    Super Rugby Women’s Team List: Trial Match v Queensland Reds

    February 5, 2025

    Brumbies and Raiders combine for ANZAC weekend fixtures

    February 4, 2025

    Sotutu Returns to Boost Blues for Highlanders Clash

    February 19, 2025

    MG Motor Joins Blues as Official Vehicle Partner

    February 13, 2025

    Tu’ungafasi Celebrates 150th Cap as Blues Unleash Star-Studded Line-Up at Eden Park Opener

    February 12, 2025

    Blues Team Up with Gerard Roofs for a Strong 2025 Season Partnership

    February 11, 2025

    Chiefs Prepare for Crusaders Clash: Brown’s Debut and Tupaea’s Milestone

    February 19, 2025

    Chiefs’ All Blacks Set for Pre-Season Action Against Moana Pasifika

    February 6, 2025

    Chiefs Unveil New Talent Ahead of Taranaki Pre-Season Clash

    January 30, 2025

    Chiefs’ Rising Star Wallace Sititi Sidelined After Knee Surgery

    January 25, 2025

    Crusaders Ready to Kick Off Pre-Season with Blues Battle in Kirwee

    January 30, 2025

    Crusaders Partner with Moa Brewing Company to Elevate Fan Experience

    January 23, 2025

    Jamie Hannah Commits to Crusaders Until 2028

    January 23, 2025

    Crusaders 2025 Tickets Now Available!

    January 23, 2025

    Fijian Drua to Host Rugby FCLA in Historic Fiji Showdown

    January 20, 2025

    Highlanders Set for Home Opener Against Blues

    February 19, 2025

    Waratahs edge Highlanders in thrilling season opener

    February 16, 2025

    Highlanders Announce Squad for Season Opener Against Waratahs

    February 12, 2025

    Highlanders Gear Up for Waitangi Day Showdown Against Crusaders

    February 4, 2025

    Xavier Numia Commits to Hurricanes Through 2027

    January 29, 2025

    Hurricanes Brew Up Partnership with Flight Coffee for 2025 Season

    January 28, 2025

    Hurricanes Poua Swap Rugby Boots for Riding Boots at Hutt Valley RDA

    January 16, 2025

    Match Review: Qld Reds v Moana Pacifika — Rd2 2025

    February 21, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 3, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 2, 2025

    Moana Pasifika Set to Face Highlanders in Pre-Season Opener

    January 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Tahs best Brumbies.

    March 22, 2025

    Isaac Kailea re-signs with RA.

    March 21, 2025

    U18s & U20s Tahs sides named.

    March 14, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    Reds break drought.

    March 22, 2025

    Tom ‘The Laser’ Lynagh: Its the vibe.

    March 22, 2025

    Caslick to start in Reds #100th.

    March 19, 2025

    Force out-Brumby the Brumbies 45-42.

    February 22, 2025

    Jeremy Williams Re-Signs with Western Force for Two More Years

    February 6, 2025

    Club captain Jeremy Williams re-commits to Western Force with new deal

    February 6, 2025

    Western Force Unveils Star-Studded Squad for Brumbies Pre-Season Clash

    February 5, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

    March 24, 2025

    Live: SRP ladder

    March 22, 2025
  • Six Nations

    Six Nations round 4

    March 8, 2025

    Tree Irish legends call time

    February 28, 2025

    Frogs flog Italy.

    February 24, 2025

    Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

    February 23, 2025

    Poms pinch it.

    February 23, 2025
  • Women’s

    More in store for Qld women’s comp.

    March 21, 2025

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – progress mixed in with some injustice

    November 21, 2024

    Yowie on the Loose: How long until test rugby restarts?

    October 15, 2024

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #50: limited rugby, but plenty of news

    October 14, 2024
  • Sevens

    G&GR team’s podcast, Ireland and done

    December 2, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – US edition marketing the game, Perry Baker, Super Rugby my new dawn.

    October 17, 2024

    Sevens Olympic Heaven!

    July 18, 2024

    Thursday’s Rugby News

    July 4, 2024
  • Podcast

    The Dropped Kick-Off 153 – Schmeal – Les Kiss from a Rose

    April 30, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 151 – did we mention we like the Tahs?

    April 18, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 150 – Angry Italian Hand Gestures 🤌 🤌

    April 10, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 149 – RIP Val Kilmer

    April 4, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 148 – Sprained Ankles and Tah Road Rage

    March 27, 2025
Green & Gold Rugby
Home»Rugby»Vikings still to conquer the Pacific
Rugby

Vikings still to conquer the Pacific

Andrew HandysideBy Andrew HandysideOctober 6, 20183 Comments
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The Vikings of yore never made it as far as the pacific, so the historical backdrop to this match loses some of its veneer.

However, the modern Vikings have the advantage of plane travel and the Fijian locals were more than welcoming of the “invaders” given they were just in town for the latest round of the NRC.

With 4 wins apiece and only 2 rounds remaining, things are getting serious.  Both teams are looking good to make the finals just in what order remains unclear so there was plenty to play for.

This season’s stats make for some interesting reading, if you’re into that (Rugby Reg, I’m looking directly at you, matey) especially in the context of this match up.

Fiji lead the way in almost every attacking statistic. Metres, Carries, Clean Breaks, Defenders Beaten and Offloads all see the Drua atop.  In fact, only passes and kicks from hand aren’t headed by the lads from Pacific.  (If you must know, the Force head both of those) Where they fall down is in turnovers and penalties conceded, something the Vikings could look to exploit.

On the other hand, the Canberra-based outfit are leading tacklers of the competition and having conceded only 119 points in 5 games are second only to Fiji…..but one does wonder if that data is skewed not so much by Fiji’s defensive efforts or just that after all their razzle-dazzle and Harlem Globetrotter antics the opposition is either a) out of time or b) out of energy?

Anyway,
The match!!

Things kicked off under sunny skies and it was the defence-focused Vikings who put their stamp on things from the outset.  A line break and a couple of dominant scrums had the locals on the back foot and after a snek over 10 minutes the score was 7-blot to the visitors, courtesy of wing Len Ikitau toeing a Fijian dropped ball ahead and winning the race to ground it. Wharenui Hawera obliged with the boot.

The early points to the visitors awoke something in the locals and flood gates opened.  After two long-range specials to Levani Kurumudu (15th minute) and Apisalome Waqatabu (17th) the home side had wrested back control of the match and things were looking ominous for the folk from the ‘Bra.  Fiji were finding their rhythm and the defensive wall that had stood strong so far this year was starting to crack.

The boys from the bush held strong for the next period and the score remained 14-7 before Waqatabu, who obviously packed his magic wand, ran in another Fijian special.  The foot-related radar continued on song to stretch the lead to two converted tries.

Much like early in the half, again the team from the Oz capital gave up consecutive tries with Kurumudu splitting apart the defensive line off the kick-off and finding Alivereti Veitokani to run away to the corner for his first 5-pointer of the match.

From 14-7 after 26 minutes, the away team suddenly found themselves down 33-7 after 32 minutes after another bustling run from a Fijian back, this time Kurumudu who sent it on to Tabulawaki to dot down next to the posts after strolling through some ordinary defence.

The Vikings needed something to stem the tide and after a couple of relieving penalties (courtesy of Vunipola Fifita dominating Rabukawaqa at scrum time) they finally found their way to the line through the appropriately named, Jordan Jackson-Hope and at oranges it’s 33-14.

Almost immediately out of the sheds JJ-Hope was in again.  Some solid lead up work by Chance Peni in the lead up see the Vikings go 50meters for the meaty and Hawera helps cut the margin to 12 by knocking it over from the touchline.

The lead is again reduced as J-Hope breaks his way upfield before Powell eventually puts it down next the uprights and out of nowhere the score line reads 33-28 with half an hour to go!

Discipline again rears its ugly head; the home side gives away a string of penalties before replacement prop Max Bode avoids the nudie-run and with Hawera’s extras the Vikings find themselves leading affairs with just over 20 minutes to go.

The joy is short-lived though as Fiji does what Fiji does, taking the ball from in their own half to find their way to try-line with Kurumudu grabbing his second for the arvo and with the conversion the score swings to 5 in Fiji’s favour.

With the match on a knife-edge, it was just begging for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck and be the hero.  In the dying stages both teams had their chances as it to’d and fro’d, ranging from one end of the park to t’other but dropped balls, line-outs to nowhere and offensive penalties eventually saw the match somewhat fizzle out.

A truly entertaining match worthy of two top-of-the-table teams but for me, it just missed that last play to make it an all-time classic.

[one_third last=”no”]

The Game Changer

The game changer for me was the lack of game changer.

We expected this match to be tussle between Fiji’s traditional flair and Canberra’s gritty, trench warfare, grinding style and it lived up to that.

A lucky early touchdown for Canberra then gave way to Fiji’s “run it from anywhere” attitude before the Vikings’ sensible, methodical approach saw them get themselves back in front.

What this game missed at the end was someone to make it their own.  A flash of individual brilliance or a well-worked move off a line-out or scrum would have topped this one off.

[/one_third]

[one_third last=”no”]

The G&GR MOTM

As amazing as the Fijian backline is, across all positions, there needs to be someone in the middle spotting gaps, hitting holes and just generally directing stuff around them to make it all happen.

That man today was Fiji’s flyhalf, Alivereti Veirokani.

9 runs, 140 meters gained, 2 line-breaks, 2 off-loads, a try and the guy even kicked a conversion.

[/one_third]

[one_third last=”yes”]

Rising Star Watch

More than just a rising star, this guy earnt himself a gold star.

Almost pulling a Fiji on Fiji was Jordan Jackson-Hope.  Five tackle busts from nine runs only tells part of the story.  When he wasn’t shedding tacklers running at inside centre he was popping up everywhere else around the field.  Both of his tries came from running hard in pursuit of kicks and were just rewards for his efforts.

A former schoolboy Wallaby already with 11 matches of Super Rugby experience, watch for this guy in 2019 and beyond.

[/one_third]

The Details

[one_half last=”no”]

Fiji Drua 40

Tries: Waqatabu 2, Kurumundu 2, Veitokani, Tabulawaki

Cons: Waqatabu 4, Veitokani

PG: Nil

[/one_half]

[one_half last=”yes”]

Canberra Vikings 35

Tries: Jackson-Hope 2, Ikitau, Powell, Leber

Cons: Hawera 5

[/one_half]

Match Highlights:

We are a fan run website, we appreciate your support.

💬 Have you got a news article suggestion? Submit a story and have your say
👀 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.com
🎵 Listen to our Podcasts on Spotify and iTunes
🎥 Watch our Podcasts on YouTube


Drua News NRC review Vikings
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleNRC Round 6 Preview
Next Article QLD County run Rays ragged in 2nd half rampage
Andrew Handyside

Turned to writing for GAGR before my over the top rants about rugby landed me in hot water. Hoping this will keep me a little more measured.

Related Posts

Thursday’s Rugby News – the final countdown

May 8, 2025

Tuesday’s Rugby News

May 6, 2025

Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #68: that was certainly unpredictable.

May 5, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – adults running the show

May 1, 2025
Latest

Friday’s Rugby News.

May 9, 2025

Lions Squad Named Tonight.

May 8, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – the final countdown

May 8, 2025

Yowie on the Loose: almost too much rugby news

May 7, 2025
1 2 3 … 2,595 Next
Latest Super Rugby

Reds top of the pops.

March 29, 2025

More Tahs misery.

March 29, 2025

Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

March 24, 2025

Live: SRP ladder

March 22, 2025
1 2 3 … 790 Next
Latest Six Nations

Six Nations round 4

March 8, 2025

Tree Irish legends call time

February 28, 2025

Frogs flog Italy.

February 24, 2025

Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

February 23, 2025
1 2 3 … 25 Next
GAGR Podcast
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
About Us
About Us

greenandgoldrugby.com is your one stop shop for all things Rugby Union - news, podcasts, opinions, fixtures, events & everything in between.

greenandgoldrugby.com - created by fans of rugby, for fans of rugby.

About
Submit a Story
Authors
Contact
Privacy

Our Picks

Rising rally to overrun Queensland Country

September 4, 2016

Waratahs young leaders to shine

January 18, 2017

Eight ANGRY Observations from tonight’s game

June 18, 2016
New Comments
  • AllyOz on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • AllyOz on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • AllyOz on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • AllyOz on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Rod Finnegan on Friday’s Rugby News.
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
  • Wallabies
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy (2023)
© 2025 Ponderosa Publishing Pty Ltd | ABN 76 668 430 386.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.