The Canterbury Crusaders were stunned 20-10 by Fijian Drua on Saturday for a third straight defeat, equalling their worst start to a Super Rugby season.
The seven-time defending champions fell away in the second half in Lautoka. The only other time the Crusaders have lost their three opening matches was the competition’s inaugural season back in 1996.
Captain Scott Barrett said the humid conditions in Fiji played a part in their error-ridden display, having led 10-0 at the 20-minute mark before the Drua took control.
“You give the Fijian Drua a sniff and they will really punish you,” Barrett said.
“We just weren’t sharp and clinical like we’d hope. We were clear on our game plan, it was pretty simple, but we just didn’t execute.”
A third straight defeat to start the season — against the previously winless Drua — piles the pressure on new coach Rob Penney.
Penney replaced Scott Robertson, who left to coach the New Zealand All Blacks after steering the Crusaders to the title in each of his seven seasons in charge.
Penney’s side — shorn of several injured or departed All Blacks — opened their Super Rugby Pacific season by losing to the Waikato Chiefs, then the New South Wales Waratahs before also going down to the Drua.
Fijian-born Crusaders winger Sevu Reece put his side ahead with an early try but the scores were level 10-10 at halftime following a try to Drua winger Selestino Ravutaumada.
Fiji scrum-half Frank Lomani crossed early in the second half and the home side held the upper hand for the remainder of the contest, completing the scoring with a late penalty goal slotted by flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.
It was the Crusaders’ second straight loss to the Drua in Fiji, having been beaten 25-24 at the same Churchill Park venue last year.
