The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua produced a commanding home performance to beat the ACT Brumbies 42-27 in a Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match at 4R Electrical Govind Park in Ba on Saturday, handing the Australian side a bruising trip home and furthering the Drua’s early-season momentum.
The scoreboard swung quickly in the opening quarter. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty before the Brumbies hit back almost immediately through a Hudson Creighton try a minute later. The Drua regained control when Etonia Waqa crossed in the 12th minute, but the game’s physical edge was set when Mesake Doge was sin-binned in the 19th minute. The Brumbies took advantage of the numerical edge with Toby Macpherson dotting down in the 25th minute, and the Drua were reduced to 14 men again shortly after when Elia Canakaivata was yellow-carded.
Despite the two yellow cards, Drua kept their composure. Armstrong-Ravula kicked a penalty in the 28th minute and Canakaivata atoned for his earlier sin-binning by burrowing over for a try just before halftime, leaving the hosts 20-12 ahead at the break. The first half underlined both the Drua’s growing attacking threat and some discipline issues the coaching staff will want to address.
The Drua’s second half surge cemented the result. Debutant Sairusi Ravudi made an immediate impact, crossing for a try in the 44th minute, and Ilaisa Droasese doubled the home side’s lead with a second-half score in the 50th minute. The Brumbies fought back with Macpherson claiming his second try in the 55th minute and scrum-half Ryan Lonergan touching down in the 60th, but Armstrong-Ravula’s reliable boot — another penalty in the 67th minute — kept the Drua ahead.
Droasese completed his brace with a 70th-minute try that put the game beyond doubt, and although Andy Muirhead forced a late consolation try for the Brumbies in the final minute, the home side held on for a memorable 42-27 victory amid a passionate Ba crowd. The win showcased a mix of attacking flair, youthful impact — highlighted by Ravudi’s debut score — and toughness to withstand periods with a man down.
This result builds on the Drua’s recent form; earlier this season they edged the Hurricanes 25-20 at Churchill Park to snap a run of poor results, and Saturday’s performance suggests the team is finding cohesion as the campaign progresses. The Drua now turn their attention to next week’s match against the Reds in Lautoka, a test that will further measure how this side stacks up against top Australian opposition.
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