On a wet Friday night in Suva, two teams that have struggled in Super Rugby Pacific this season - the Auckland Blues and Fijian Drua - faced off in a matchup filled with surprises.

But it quickly became obvious how the game would unfold as the defending champions from New Zealand took an early lead in their round 13 match of Super Rugby Pacific.

The final score was 34-5 in favour of the Aucklanders, who scored three tries in the first half by prop Marcel Renata, halfback Taufa Funaki, and prop Josh Fusiu’a.

While the Fijians have shown they can never be counted out, they missed several chances and ill-discipline cost them. They now grow closer to finishing at the bottom of the standings.

The Drua usually prefer to focus on offence, making the fewest tackles in the competition. But on Friday, the hosts found themselves on the back foot.

According to the match stats, in the first 30 minutes, the Fijians nearly matched their average of 126 tackles per game and ended up with 166 tackles by the 80th minute.

While their tackle success rate was relatively decent at 86 per cent, the Drua allowed the Blues too many opportunities, leading to a comprehensive defeat.

Thanks to the kicking skills of All Black playmaker Beauden Barrett, the Blues spent a lot of time attacking the Drua side of the field. Barrett kicked well and added a penalty to help the Blues lead 22-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the Blues continued to dominate, with Angus Ta’avao scoring shortly after the break. Despite the heavy rain, Drua fans kept cheering for their team, which still needed to find a way to score. The Blues extended their lead to 34-0 with a try from winger Cole Forbes.

The Drua eventually managed to get on the scoreboard with a consolation try from wing Selestino Ravutaumada in the 76th minute, but it was too little, too late.

A disappointed captain Mesake Doge told StanSport after the game that it was a tough encounter and "a frustrating one for us".

"I know the boys are feeling it, especially since we are playing at home in front of our home crowd. The Blues came out fighting, and they got the better of us today."

Doge says the team wore black armbands to pay tribute to the Fiji rugby sevens star and Paris Olympics silver medallist, Josaia Raisuqe, who died in a road crash in France on Thursday, Fiji time. He was 30.

Sotutu shines in Blues' dominance

Blues’ No.8 Hoskins Sotutu, son of Fiji-born former All Blacks star Waisake Sotutu, had a standout performance, contributing to key plays on offence and defence. He helped maintain a fast pace for the game and was involved in pivotal moments, including assisting in one of the tries.

Blues' captain Patrick Tuipolotu says they came to Fiji with a game plan, they stuck to it, and they came up trumps.

Blues' captain Patrick Tuipolotu leads his side during warm ups. Photo/Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

"We knew that if we gave the Drua space and time, they would use the advantage line, especially in the middle and outside of the park," Tuipolotu told a post-match interview.

"Our focus was to get our set-piece going to control the game that way, kick penalties and keep the game down there.

"It has been a tough run, and we have been complacent heading into this year. There were a few close results that could have gone either way.

"We know now that it's close to finals time soon, and we've got to make our way there, and for us, last week and now this week and the focus is on Moana, which is no easy feat, so it's been a tough run for us.

"You see how he [Ardie Savea] has lifted his team and we can see their success and how they have gone in the last couple of games and we know how they wanna play and it's a cool style to watch so it's a challenge in itself and one we're ready for next week," Tuipolotu says.

In other results on Friday, the Queensland Reds defeated the NSW Waratahs 28-21 in Sydney.

Looking ahead, the Fijian Drua will face the Western Force next Saturday afternoon in Lautoka. On the same day, the Blues will play against Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium.

Other matches this weekend include the Crusaders hosting the Chiefs, and the Brumbies visiting Perth to take on the Force.