The Fijian Drua will host defending champions Queensland Country in the Australian National Rugby Championship final.
The Drua came from 16 points down to defeat the Canberra Vikings 35-28 on Saturday, in the first semi-final in Lautoka, while the Country team overcome a lightning stoppage to beat the Western Force 45-24 on Sunday.
"It's a huge achievement for the Drua team into their second year in the competition and this is huge for Fiji Rugby," said head coach Senirusi Seruvakula.
"Our first time ever to hold the semi-final and now it's the final and full credit to the team, to the boys, who have been performing well throughout the season."
The Fijian Drua will host the Australian NRC final after beating Canberra in Lautoka. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Seruvakula said even when the home side went behind the players remained calm and always believed they could win.
"We did a lot of errors in the first half when we have the ball and we were not patient," he said.
"Every time the boys had the ball they were trying to score tries but there is a gameplan that has to be followed and the confidence started building up slowly, rather than having a good start at the word go, and that shows that result in the first half."
The Drua have won seven of their eight matches this season, including five straight on home soil, but they are yet to get the better of Queensland Country in three attempts, including a 52-22 defeat five weeks ago.
"Everyone wants to play Queensland so we just have to prepare well and this is the biggest game of our lives and especially this is the only team that has beaten us this year and beaten us again in the semi-final (last year)," Seruvakula said.
"So it's not going to be revenge - it's just (we) want to prove to Queensland that they are beatable."
The Fijian have never beaten grand final opponents Queensland Country. Photo: Fiji Rugby
"This is a different team from last year - the high level of skills in the team and their talent is so high.
"These guys, we are there to perform - perform and entertain - and that's our thing every week to go out and entertain the crowd and confidence has been there always but we need to start early rather than start later.
"If we start later the result showed last weekend and those past weeks that we come from behind and win at the end of the game."
