Click here for game wrap
Drua 14 Blues 30
Drua - Canakaivata 2 tries; Tela conversion, Valetini conversion
Blues - R Ioane, Papalii & Suafoa try; Barrett 2 penalties & 3 conversions, Plummer penalty
Fulltime
40th minute - Valetini finds touch on the Blues 22 for an attacking lineout and Drua win the lineout. Ravutaumada bursts into the 22 and the Drua build phases, before shifting left, but a long pass is hacked into touch by Sullivan to end the game.
39th minute - Drua break from the scrum and win a penalty... and then another on halfway.
37th minute - Blues win the lineout and maul towards the Drua 22. Nock releases to the backs and Ioane makes metres in midfield, but the ball goes loose.
Ravutaumada races upfield, but there was a forward pass back inside the 22.
36th minute - Drua win a lineout on their 22, but keep the ball in hand. Eventually, Valetini kicks high and long, bouncing awkwardly for the Blues.
Drua regain possession, but the Blues win a clearing penalty.
35th minute - Blues clear the scrum and run from their 22. Telea kicks ahead and into touch.
34th minute - Drua enter the 22, but Ikanivere drops the ball in midfield.
33rd minute - Drua regain possession from the kickoff and then win a penalty on the Blues 10. Valetini kicks to the corner...
31st minute - PENALTY to Barrett
Barrett miscues his kick at goal, but it slithers over to put the margin beyond two converted tries, BLU 30-14
29th minute - Blues enter the 22 and build phases. Barrett cuts back across the grain, but Nock's pass goes behind Sullivan... they're playing advantage for offside.
28th minute - Blues kick off and Drua drop a pass in their 22. Droasese's clearance finds touch on the 10.
Blues win the lineout and maul forward...
26th minute - TRY to Canakaivata
Drua win the lineout and rumble towards the posts. When the ball is released right, the No.8 has his second try with an extravagant dive.
Valetini converts, BLU 27-14
25th minute - Drua shift left, but lose the ball. They have penalty advantage and Tela kicks to the corner.
24th minute - Drua get a free-kick at the lineout and take a tap.
23rd minute - Drua get a free-kick at the scrum and take a quick tap. They get a penalty and find touch near the Blues 22.
22nd minute - Blues win the lineout and shift right, where Ioane makes big metres into the 22, but Suafoa spills the ball.
21st minute - Drua clear the ball from the scrum quickly and clear to halfway.
20th minute - Both teams take a water break. Blues win a lineout and maul towards the line, but ignore O'Keeffe's instructions to release the ball, so Drua have a defensive scrum.
19th minute - Blues win yet another scrum penalty, but Clarke breaks upfield and finds Nock in support. O'Keeffe blows another penalty for a high tackle near the Drua goal-line.
18th minute - Ravutaumada loses the ball in midfield, but the Drua play on and are eventually called back for the knockon.
17th minute - Blues replace Papalii, Christie and Ioane. Barrett finds touch for an attacking lineout.
Drua steal the lineout throw and kick long. Blues return the kick and Drua break into Blues half.
16th minute - O'Keeffe blows his whistle twice and warns the Drua for their infringements. He also warns the Blues for their chatter.
15th minute - Barrett kicks for the corner and another attacking lineout. Darry wins the lineout, but the maul is sacked.
The Blues keep it among the forwards, but are driven back in a tackle.
13th minute - Blues win another scrum penalty and pour into the 22. They shift left, where Clarke is brought down, but they lose the ball and come back for the scrum penalty.
12th minute - Barrett kicks ahead and Drua knock on, so Blues have a scrum just outside the Drua 22.
11th minute - Riccitelli replaces Vikena, as Drua kick off barely the 10 metres. BLues shift right to Papalii.
Ninth minute - TRY to Papalii
Blues win the lineout and maul forwards. Christie releases the ball to the backs, Choat goes close by the posts and the captain is driven over a couple of phases later.
Barrett converts from in front of the posts, BLU 27-7
Eighth minute - Darry wins the lineout, the Blues maul forward and win a penalty, when the maul is collapsed. Barrett finds touch inside the 22.
Seventh minute - Blues win another scrum penalty and come back, when Barrett's long pass misses Sullivan by a wide margin. Barrett finds touch near the Drua 10.
Sixth minute - From the scrum, No.8 Canakaivata goes right, but Lomani goes left, and his pass is forward and dropped by centre Masi.
Fifth minute - Darry wins the lineout, but Vikena's throw isn't straight.
Fourth minute - Blues have a defensive scrum feed and they have a scrum penalty to clear. Barrett finds touch near the 10.
Third minute - Drua set up for a tap, but the pass goes astry and Droasese loses the ball backwards. Lomani makes another break, but his offload lobs forward.
Second minute - Drua win the lineout and Lomani runs through the lineout. Drua forwards rumble towards the posts and win a penalty at the breakdown.
First minute - Sullivan kicks off for the BLues and gets a clearing kick back. Barrett kicks high and the Blues are offside in the kick chase.
Tela finds touch near the Blues 22.
Halftime
40th minute - Drua have time to kick off before the halftime siren, but Clarke finds touch to end the half.
39th minute - TRY to Suafoa
Drua overthrow the lineout again, Blues have a penalty advantagae, but they don't need it, as they drive to the tryline and Suafoa bounces off several tackles to score from 10 metres out.
Barrett converts, BLU 20-7
38th minute - Tela finds touch near the Blues 10. Vikena steals another long throw and Blues pour into Drua territory.
Barrett kicks for Clarke's wing, but the ball bounces into touch inside the 22.
37th minute - Drua shift left and have a breakdown penalty.
36th minute - Barrett kicks off long and Drua exit their 22 with ball in hand.
34th minute - TRY to Canakaivata
Blues spill the kickoff and Drua pour into the 22. Blues are offside at the breakdown and Drua go right, where Ikanivere is difficult to put down and the No.8 takes a pass from the breakdown and beats Darry to score.
32nd minute - PENALTY to Plummer
Plummer takes a shot at goal from just his side of halfway and slots it, BLU 13-0
31st minute - Christie feeds the scrum on halfway and the Blues get a scrum penalty.
30th minute - From the kickoff, Barrett finds touch outside the Drua 22, but they take a quick throw. Drua knock on and Christie kicks to the corner, it runs into touch in goal, so O'Keeffe brings them back for the Blues scrum.
28th minute - TRY to Rieko Ioane
Vikena's throw goes astray and Drua break out of their 22. Blues get the ball back and after a couple of phases, Sullivan offloads to his centre for the opening try.
Barrett converts, BLU 10-0
26th minute - From the kickoff, Drua receive the ball back, but Blues win a breakdown penalty on halfway. Barrett finds touch inside the 22.
25th minute - PENALTY to Barrett
Barrett finally opens the scoring, BLU 3-0
24th minute - Blues enter the 22 and win a penalty for a no-arms tackle. Sotutu drives forward, followed by Darry, but Vikena's hands let him down again - back for the penalty.
23rd minute - Drua win a defensive lineout and Lomani clears to the 10. Blues win the lineout and maul forward to the 22.
22nd minute - Blues shift right, where Sullivan kicks ahead into Drua 22. Canakaivata runs it out and Telea spills a high kick backwards.
Clarke kicks to the left corner and it runs into touch out from the corner flag.
21st minute - Blues win a penalty advantage from the scrum, but Barrett breaks upfield and chips ahead. Ravutaumada eventually clears his 22 and both teams take a water break in this heat.
19th minute - Barrett smothers a kick in midfield, but he's knocked on, so another scrum.
From the scrum, Lomani switches play to the left and Droasese storms up centrefield, before losing the ball inside the Blues 22.
18th minute - Christie enters the 22, but Suafoa's turn to drop the ball.
17th minute - Christie runs from the scrum and fast hands get the ball to Clarke down the left.
16th minute - Lomani runs from the scrum, but Salawa can't handle the inside pass in midfield.
15th minute - Vikena snatches a long Drua throw to the lineout and Barrett kicks to the far corner. Blues get the ball back and Clarke brings it back to the 22.
Tuungafasi loses the ball, which seems slippery in the humidity.
14th minute - Drua win a lineout on their on 10 and win a breakdown penalty in midfield. Tela finds touch outside the BLues 22 and the Blues are warned.
13th minute - Lomani runs from the scrum and sets Sau loose, but he loses the ball and O'Keeffe brings them back for a BLues scrum collapse.
12th minute - Drua scrum feed in their own 22.
11th minute - Blues win a lineout on the Drua 10 and maul forward. They shift right and Telea runs, but loses the ball in a tackle.
10th minute - Blues win a free-kick from the scrum and Sullivan finds touch on the Drua 22. They take a quick throw...
Ninth minute - Drua build phases in front of the posts, but Papalii turns the ball over, then Vikena loses it forward, so Drua scrum.
Eighth minute - Drua win the lineout, but make no progress with the maul. BLues defence drives them across the field.
Seventh minute - Scrum repacks and Drua win a penalty. Tela kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout...
Fifth minute - Barrett kicks the penalty dead in goal - bad mistake - so Drua have the scrum feed near the Blues 10.
Fourth minute - Big BLues scrum wins a penalty advantage, but they break out of their 22 through Telea. Blues have a penalty for offside.
Third minute - Front rows go up and Blues win the feed.
Second minute - Ravutaumada throws a loose pass, Barrett clears, but they were playing advantage. Drua feed first scrum of the game...
First minute - Ben O'Keeffe has the whistle this afternoon and Tela will kick off for the Drua. Sullivan catches near his own line and clears to touch on the 10.
Blues get a tap on the ball, but Drua stream through into the 22.
2:06pm - Blues perform their haka and Fiji their challenge in centrefield, spinetingling spectacle that's sure to get the crowd riled up.
*****
Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the Blues' Super Rugby Pacific showdown with the Drua at Lautoka.
The Blues head to Fiji on the back of consecutive wins over the Rebels and the Waratahs, chasing a win that could - if the Chiefs can beat the Crusaders later on Saturday - boost them into fourth place in the competition standings.
But a trip to Churchill Park is never to be taken lightly. Just ask the defending champion Crusaders, who were edged by the hosts in an historic result last month.
After consecutive one-sided defeats to heavyweights the Chiefs and the Brumbies, the Drua will be desperate to snap their two-game losing skid and a return to their home environs could prove just the antidote.
We'll have all of the action from 2pm.
TAB betting odds: Fijian Drua $4.40, Blues $1.20
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Soane Vikena, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Cameron Suafoa, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-James Lay, 19-James Tucker, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-AJ Lam
Fijian Drua: 1-Haereiti Hetet, 2-Tevita Ikanivere, 3-Samuela Tawake, 4-Isoa Nasilasila, 5-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6-Vilive Miramira, 7-Kitione Salawa , 8-Elia Canakaivata, 9-Frank Lomani, 10-Teti Tela, 11-Eroni Sau, 12-Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13-Iosefo Masi , 14-Selestino Ravutaumada, 15-Ilaisa Droasese
Reserves: 16-Mesulame Dolokoto, 17-Emosi Tuqiri, 18-Jone Tiko, 19-Chris Minimbi, 20-Joseva Tamani, 21-Peni Matawalu, 22-Kemu Valetini , 23-Apisalome Vota
Why Leon MacDonald turned down overseas head coaching offers for All Blacks assistant coach role
By Alex Powell
Once the door opened for Leon MacDonald to become an assistant coach to Scott Robertson with the All Blacks, the current Blues boss couldn't see his future anywhere else.
On Wednesday, one of the worst kept secrets in NZ rugby was confirmed, as MacDonald's appointment as an All Blacks assistant from 2024 was announced. He'll combine with his former All Blacks and Crusaders teammate Robertson to become the new attack coach.
But it could have been so much different for MacDonald.
After impressing during his tenure as head coach of the Blues, MacDonald was reportedly a target to take charge of Scotland from 2024.
However, with dialogue over joining Robertson's team dating back to 2019 - when he lost out to Ian Foster - MacDonald knew where his loyalties lay.
"I had chats with a few different people, just because you didn't know what was going to happen," MacDonald said.
"It was a good chance to have a bit of a think about what's next. The All Blacks was always going to be the pinnacle and the dream job.
"The way it's rolled out has been ideal. Once this role became a bit clearer about where we're heading, the other options weren't seriously considered."
While some might consider the move a backwards step - moving from a Super Rugby head coach into an assistant role - MacDonald doesn't see it that way.
Instead, the 45-year-old is relishing the chance to support Robertson, once they begin with the All Blacks next year.
"You've got to be really, really, really ready to be coach of the All Blacks, it's definitely not one to rush into," said MacDonald.
"Razor's done his time, he's ready, he's got runs on the board.
"An assistant role suits me really well at the moment. I'm really proud of what I've done with the Blues [but] I think this is a really nice progression for me, personally.
"I'm going to be running the attack, which I've done with the Blues. That fits really nicely with me as well, I've got a lot of confidence in that area.
"At the moment, I think it's a great outcome for me, personally."
But for now, MacDonald insists his priority remains with the Blues.
Since taking charge of the Auckland side in 2019, MacDonald has been the catalyst for a revival in the Aucklanders' fortunes.
Without a title since 2003, MacDonald helmed the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman victory in 2021 and led the Blues to the decider last year, when he was bettered by Robertson's Crusaders.
But this year will mark MacDonald's last season in Auckland, where he's forged his reputation as a test calibre coach.
"Yesterday was probably the first time it all clicked that it's all real and happening. The support of the guys was awesome.
"It's been a big part of my journey, the Blues. Who would have thought, coming from Blenheim up to Auckland?
"Initially, I was thinking 'what am I doing here?' Now, I'm so glad I did.
"It's been a great decision for us to come up here and be a part of the Blues family."
And with his days at the Blues numbered, MacDonald has a drought-ending Super Rugby Pacific title firmly in his sights.
"I was pretty hungry to win it this year, now [I'm] even more so. To finish here with a title would be immense and amazing.
"It'll be a bit different not walking through those doors - it's been five years here, which is a reasonable stint.
"To win a title would be amazing."
