Drua vs Brumbies takes: Drua make chances count, ex-U20s captain steps up

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and the Fijian Drua have made Super Rugby Pacific history against the ACT Brumbies, with the hosts claiming a 42-27 win over the Australian rugby juggernauts.

It was the first time the Drua had taken a regular-seasn fixture to the province of Ba, and the occasion was made even more memorable as they recorded their first-ever victory agaisnt the Brumbies.

Armstrong-Ravula became the first Drua player ever to score 200 career points in Super Rugby Pacific, with the playmaker knocking over an early penalty. While the Brumbies hit back immediately through Hudson Creighton, the home side regained control.

Etonia Waqa was next to strike on the scoreboard, but poor discipline from the Drua saw the team go down to 13 men at one stage. The scoreboard read 20-12 at the break, but the hosts built up a big lead through Sairusi Ravudi and Ilaisa Droasese during the second term.

The Drua did enough to earn their second win in four matches this season, which saw them surge up the standings into the top six for the time being. Here are some takeaways from the Drua’s win over the Brumbies in Ba.

Drua make their chances count

Drua fans in Bai had an early reason to celebrate when Armstrong-Ravula knocked over a penalty attempt in the fifth minute, which gave the hosts a 3-0 lead. But the Brumbies silenced those cheers immediately, with some clever link-up play between the backs.

Kye Oates made a break through the Drua’s defensive line before getting a pass off to scrum-half Klayton Thorn, who produced a moment of brilliance to set up Hudson Creighton. With some split-second decision-making, Thorn put a kick ahead for Creighton to score.

The Brumbies took the lead, but the Drua players had some tricks up their sleeves as well. Etonia Waqa and Elia Canakaivata crossed for one try each during the first half, with the home side going into the sheds up by eight.

But the Brumbies certainly had their chances.

Fiji went down to 13 men at one stage after yellow cards to Mesake Doge and Canakaivata, with the hosts conceding more penalties during the first half. As for the Brumbies, they had 61 per cent of possession and 50 per cent territory during the opening 40.

The Brumbies spent more than four minutes inside the Drua’s 22, while the Drua spent less than two minutes in the red zone themselves. On the defensive side of the ball, the Brumbies missed more first-half tackles and the Drua had a better completion percentage.

Tane Edmed delivered a pass to Andy Muihread less than two minutes into the second, but the captain dropped the ball. It wouldn’t have been a three-on-one if the fullback had caught the ball, but it wasn’t to be.

The Drua scored another three second-half tries, while Armstrong-Ravula kept the scoreboard kicking over with some accurate shots at the uprights. It was a clinical performance from the Drua, who ran away with a statement result on home soil.

Former Australia U20s captain a shining light

Coach Stephen Larkham made nine changes to the Brumbies matchday 23 for this round five clash, with a handful of players named for their starting debuts. Highly rated prospect Toby MacPherson got a chance to start, and the lock took that opportunity with both hands.

MacPherson came through the ranks at Brisbane Boys’ College before earning representative honours with the Australia U20s side, captaining them a couple of years ago during the Rugby Championship U20 on the Sunshine Coast and at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

The second-rower joined Japan Rugby League One outfit Toyota Verblitz on a loan deal for the 2024/25 season, before returning to Australia’s shores with the Brumbies this season. Wallaby Nick Frost was the other lock named in the run-on side to face the Drua.

MacPherson had made three consecutive appearances off the bench to start the season, before scoring two tries on his starting debut. With the Drua down to 14 men, MacPherson struck first in the 26^th minute.

The Drua regained control by scoring 22 points unanswered, before MacPherson completed a double while rain poured down from the heavens. Toby carried the ball seven times and finished with the second-most tackles out of any Brumbies player.

Armstrong-Ravula steers the Drua to history

The Drua had never beaten the Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific.

But, as the sporting cliché goes, records are made to be broken.

Two weeks on from the team’s five-point win over the Hurricanes at home, the Drua ran away with a famous win over the Brumbies. Let’s not forget, the Brumbies emerged as one of the early-season title favourites with wins over the Crusaders and Blues last month.

Brumbies coach Larkham named a much-changed side for this contest, but let’s not take anything away from the Drua. In the first Super Rugby Pacific match in Ba, the Drua achieved a result that will be remembered in the club’s history forever.

Armstrong-Ravula has claimed some individual history as well, becoming the first Drua player to score 200 careers points in the competition. The playmaker knocked over an early penalty and continued to steer the team around the park throughout the match.

The 22-year-old played a key role in the lead-up to Waqa’s try, and generally looked calm and composed through the performance. Alongside the likes of Isoa Nasilasila Kitione Salawa, Armstrong-Ravula was one of the standouts for the Drua.

Brumbies depth put to the test

The Brumbies made a host of changes to their matchday 23 for this match against the Drua, with coach Larkham naming five players for maiden starts. Front-rower Lington Ieli was one of those selected in the First XV, as was Wallabies No. 10 Edmed.

Corey Toole was a late out for the Brumbies, and front-rower Rhys van Nek is another big-name absentee from this lineup. Then there’s regular starters like captain Ryan Lonergan and Meredith who were named to come off the pine.

This fixture was always going to be a tough test of the Brumbies squad depth, and there will no doubt be some important lessons to take out of the contest. Creighton and Oates were good out wide, while Frost and MacPherson combined well as the two locks.

But the Brumbies have now lost back-to-back matches, and face Damian McKenzie’s Chiefs next up in Canberra.

Following wins over the Crusaders in Christchurch and the Blues in Auckland, some were saying the Brumbies were title favourites. The Brums had earned top spot on the power rankings in the eyes of many.

James Slipper and others will likely return for the Chiefs match, which is shaping up as a real test of their championship credentials. It’s a must-win in that regard, as they look to bounce back and regain some momentum.