Waratahs tame Fijian Drua to break drought

Losers no more, the NSW Waratahs have opened the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season with a drought-breaking 40-10 victory over popular and passionate newcomers Fijian Drua.

Backing up their impressive unbeaten trial run, the Waratahs ran in five tries to one on Friday night to banish at least some of the bitter memories of last year's humiliating winless campaign.

The bonus-point triumph snapped a 13-match losing streak stretching some 538 days since the Waratahs beat the Melbourne Rebels in their final game of the 2020 Super Rugby AU season.

For how long remains to be seen, but the big win also elevated the Waratahs into unfamiliar territory as early competition leaders.

"It's been a long time since we've put on a performance like that, that we're really proud of," said Waratahs captain and man of the match Jake Gordon.

"It's been a long pre-season, it's good to see the boys put on a performance like that against a challenging Fijian team."

With high hopes of crashing the Waratahs' party, the Drua must have felt right at home in steamy, Suva-like conditions before kick-off as an army of Fijian fans flooded through Sydney's CommBank Stadium gates for the historic encounter.

The Fijian fanatics were treated to an emotion-charged performance of 'Na Bole' from the Drua, a spiritual pre-game war dance designed to steel the competition debutants for battle.

It looked to have done the trick early.

Renowned for their flamboyance, the Drua also brought physicality to the equation as inspired captain and No.8 Nemani Nagusa engaged in a set-to with Waratahs hardman Lachie Swinton.

As promised, though, the Waratahs, intent on not falling into any Fiji-style razzle dazzle, were happy to take the first points on offer through the