The Brumbies piled on a 42-3 win over the Fijian Drua in their only previous meeting in Super Rugby ( Round 2–2022 Super Rugby Pacific), the biggest win any team has levelled against the Fijian side this campaign.
Three of Fijian Drua’s last five Super Rugby games have been decided by a margin of no greater than five points, including their solitary win in the competition over the Melbourne Rebels in Round 3 of this Super Rugby Pacific season (31-26).
- The Brumbies will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats in Super Rugby for the first time since May 2021, following their 21-7 loss to the Queensland Reds last time out (Round 7 – 2022 Super Rugby Pacific).
- The capital side has won two of their last three Super Rugby matches against teams from outside Australia (L1), as many as they won in their previous seven (W2, L5).
- The Brumbies have scored 18 tries from a lineout season, the most of any team in the competition; Fijian Drua (2), however, have scored the fewest of any side.
- The Brumbies have crossed the gain-line on 48 carries per game, the fewest of any team, and 12 per game fewer than the Fijian Drua (60).
- The Fijian Drua have gained 464 metres per game, the second-most of any team in the competition (Chiefs – 483) and 110 per game more than the Brumbies (354).
- The Fijian Drua have made 26 tackle breaks per game, the most of any team in the competition and eight per game more than the Brumbies (18).
Players to watch
- Kalaveti Ravouvou has made dominant contact on 21 carries this season, the most of any backline player, and two more than the next best (Quinn Tupaea – 19).
- Tom Banks has made five break-passes this season, the joint-second most by any player (also Josh Ioane – 5), and three more than any Drua player.
- James Slipper is playing his 150th Super Rugby match, he has six tries since his debut in 2010.
Match detail
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In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.
1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
3.00: No advantage, the Brumbies waste an early chance.
4.00: YELLOW CARD! Tuidraki Samusamuvodre is off for a high shot to Ed Kennedy’s head. 0-0
5.00: TRY! Tom Wright waltzes over after a decent driving maul. The ball is sent wide to the Wright, fullback for the first time, for an easy score. 0-5
6.00: MISS! Nic White’s conversion attempt hits the post. 0-5
9.00: The game has been a stop-start so far, with both teams needing medical attention.
12.00: MISS! Teti Tela misses from in front. 0-5
15.00: Brumbies kick a penalty to the opposition’s 22. Nothing comes from the attack after Wright knocks on into touch.
18.00: TRY! Andy Muirhead sucks in the defenders before sending a long, cut-out pass to Cam Clark, who beats Kitione Ratu to the whitewash. 0-10
20.00: CONVERSION! White adds the extras. 0-12
23.00: Mesulame Dolokoto throws another skew lineout, killing a good attack inside the Brumbies’ 22.
26.00: Drua have had a lot of possession and territory in the last 10 minutes, but unforced errors keep killing their chance of any points.
28.00: Another botched lineout, but this time Drua get away with it because of a Brumbies’ knock-on.
31.00: Good defending by the ACT side, who win a sixth turnover of the match, and counter-attack into enemy territory. Muirhead’s pin-point 50/22 sends the Fijians back to their 22.
33.00: Vilive Miramira’s steal at the ruck sees his side counter-attack from deep before winning a penalty when Luke Reimer left his feet at the breakdown.
34.00: Vinaya Habosi loses the ball in contact, trying to run out of his 22, and gifts the Aussies an attacking scrum.
37.00: A 13-phase, two-minute attack, sees Rory Scott, Andy Muirhead, and Rod Iona go close before a Brumbies’ knock on kills the scoring chance.
39.00: For the second time today, a team is kept scoreless at halftime. You would expect Fijian Drua to score some points, though.
41.00: Meli Derenalagi’s linebreak kick-starts a counter-attack; however, nothing comes from the attack after Tom Wright’s interception and clearance to touch.
The halftime score was Fijian Drua 0 Brumbies 12
41.00: PEEEP! We are back underway in Queensland.
44.00: Early warning signs already for the Fijians as Muirhead’s break sets up an attacking lineout.
46.00: TRY! Billy Pollard claims his maiden Super Rugby try from a powerful driving maul. 0-17
47.00: CONVERSION! Moustache Pete lands the wide conversion. 0-19
49.00: TRY! Meli Derenalagi played a one-two with Vilive Miramira, who sent Kitione Ratu racing down the sideline. Ratu sucked in the cover defenders before popping inside to Onisi Ratave to score. 5-19
50.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 7-19
53.00: Mick Byrne’s men are building m,omentum, but they are still running the ball from too deep when clearing the danger is the better option.
56.00: Muirhead went close before a botched Brumbies lineout relieved pressure from the islanders.
58.00: Another handling error leads to a midfield scrum for the Aussies.
60.00: More ill-discipline costs Fijian Drua as Wright kicks to the corner.
61.00: TRY! Connal McInerney breaks off the back of the maul to score the Brumbies’ fourth of the night. 7-24
62.00: CONVERSION! Ryan Lonergan adds the extras. 7-26
65.00: TRY! Ratave dives over in the corner from a ruck near the Brumbies’ line. His workrate has been awesome, he was involved twice after Lomani’s blindside break set up the attack. 12-26
66.00: MISS! The kick is no good. 12-26
69.00: The Brumbies are controlling possession now, looking to close out the game.
72.00: Good defence by Drua earns themselves a defensive lineout inside their 22.
75.00: Brumbies controlling the clock, looking to see out another win, and claim a double over Drua.
78.00: A knock on near the opposition’s try line halts another Aussie attack.
81.00: TRY! Wright gets a double. Drua had one last attack from inside their half. The hooter sounded, the ball was lost, and the game is over when Wright runs away to score under the posts. 12-31
83.00: CONVERSION! Lonergan adds the two. 12-33
FULL TIME
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The final score is Fijian Drua 12 (0) Brumbies 33 (12)
Scorers
Fijian Drua
Tries – Ratave (2)
Pen –
Con – Tela
Drop –
Cards – Samusamuvodre (Yellow, 4′)
Brumbies
Tries – Wright (2), Clark, Pollard, McInerney
Pen –
Con – White (2), R. Lonergan (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 2: Matt Kellahan
TMO: Oli Kwellett
Teams
Fijian Drua: 15 Kitione Ratu, 14 Onisi Ratave, 13 Apisalome Vota, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Meli Derenalagi (captain), 7 Vilive Miramira, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Viliame Rarasea, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Timoci Sauvoli, 18 Jone Tiko, 19 Zuriel Togiatama, 20 Raikabula Momoedonu, 21 Rusiate Nasove, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Kitione Taliga.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Rod Iona, 9 Nic White (captain), 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Ed Kennedy, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Sefo Kautai, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Hudson Creighton, 23 Ollie Sapsford.
