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Two-try Len Ikitau the difference as Brumbies hold off Fijian Drua
A brace from Wallabies centre Len Ikitau has led the ACT Brumbies to a hard-fought 28-20 victory over the hard-running Fijian Drua to keep their hopes of a home semi-final alive.
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After getting off to an early lead, the Brumbies ceded the momentum but managed to hold on against the fast-finishing Fijians in Canberra.
Saturday night’s win keeps the Brumbies in the running for a top-two finish, trailing the second-placed Blues by five points with four rounds remaining in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season.
Ikitau scored in the sixth minute before returning captain Allan Alaalatoa crossed over two minutes later to give the home side a 14-point advantage.
Ikitau popped up again with the play of the night, perfectly timing a dart into the opposition’s 22-metre zone to link up with a precision Tamati Tua grubber kick and bag his second five-pointer in the 37th minute.
Both sides struggled to maintain possession, with handling impacted by the cold and wet conditions. Vocal Fijian support cajoled the visitors back into the game and was rewarded by a try to Isola Nasilasila on the stroke of half-time.
The Drua maintained the ascendancy after the break and thought they had snuck through again to open the second half but replays showed Peni Matawalu dropped the ball on the tryline.
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The Fijians’ concerted pressure eventually told when Simione Kuruvoli outflanked the Brumbies right edge to score his first Super Rugby try, but the home side held their nerve to wrestle back control and settled the game with a try from substitute Luke Reimer in the 66th minute.
The Brumbies will travel to Sydney to face the cellar-dwelling NSW Waratahs next week, hoping to gain further ground on the Hurricanes and Blues who face off in a top-of-the-table clash.
The Drua will rue their missed opportunities with the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika nipping at their heels.
That is a CHEEKY nudge ?
Len Ikitau nabs his second of the night with Brumbies leading 21-10 at the interval.#SuperRugbyPacific #BRUvDRU pic.twitter.com/SknqnfJUpS
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 4, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
As a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
5 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
5 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
5 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
3 Go to comments