It was a clash of cultures, playing styles and big bodies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night when Fijian Drua played an entertaining, ‘sevens’ style of rugby, but couldn’t overcome the slick precision of ACT Brumbies.
In a fast and physical game that saw turnovers by both sides, it was ultimately the Brumbies who held the ball for longer and took options better designed to advance the ball over their opponent’s line. They were deserved winners 33-12.
Drua, on the other hand, seemed to play largely off the top of their heads. But they kept on coming for the full 80 minutes, playing up-tempo and ‘fun’ rugby, only for turnovers to cost them.
Heaven help world rugby if they ever combine their natural flair with clinical decision-making at speed.
“There’s no shame in losing to a champion outfit like the Brumbies,” Stan Sport analyst and former All Blacks No.10 Andrew Mehrtens said following the match.
Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison agreed.
“It was a performance we’ve come to expect from the Brumbies… but the Fijian Drua pushed them all the way,” he said.
Pre-match Drua, as is customary, warmed up in the sheds with a song of spiritual significance.
James Slipper led the Brumbies out in game No.150, having debuted all the way back in 2010. His teammates appeared relaxed to the point of joking around.
Drua captain Meli Derenalagi emerged from the home sheds with a giant weapon and led his men in the ‘Na Bole’, their chants and cries reverberating around Suncorp Stadium. And then they said a prayer to God.
The Brumbies’ attack was the dominant force early in the game, owning all the territory in the first exchanges. Drua inside centre Tuidraki Samusamuvodre was yellow-carded for what was once seen as a clean tackle on flanker Ed Kennedy; but in these times, when shoulders near chins are forbidden, it means time on the plastic seat of shame.
Spurning the three points, Brumbies captain Nic White found Cam Clarke from his opposite wing, who found Rodney Iona, who put fullback Tom Wright over for the first try.
When Drua had space and any semblance of a fractured defensive line, their offloading and passing at speed was entertaining.
Stan Rugby analyst and former wallabies wing Lote Tuqiri urged Drua to play with typical flair but to use ‘greater discretion in decision-making’.
Hooker Mesulame Dolokoto’s decision to twice throw short into the lineout at nearly 45 degrees was an example. In the 19th minute, after multiple phases, direct running, penalty advantage and a penalty, the Brumbies were over again when Ioan went right and found Wright on the loop.
The fullback then sent a fine and long spiral pass to right wing Clarke, who scored.
Kennedy went off after a head knock, analyst Morgan Turinui noting that if a player is sent off for a high shot, it would flow that the player tackled undergo a head injury assessment on the spot.
Rory Scott came on and ran straight and with good effect. Brumbies left wing Andy Muirhead thumped a beautiful punt kick down his left flank, the ball taking a leg break into touch and winning his side a 50/22.
Yet from the lineout they ran into a wall of defence – or more to the point No.7 Vilive Miramira on the wall – who won Drua precious pill.
Derenalagi made a fine and long bust in the seconds before half-time but the hot potato went down and the Brumbies went to the break up (only) 12-0.
Tom Wright of the Brumbies is tackled by Selestino Ravutaumada of the Fijian Drua. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Six minutes into the second stanza Billy Pollard scored from a rolling maul that became a driving one given there were two Brumbies players in front of Pollard in what appeared, technically, obstructionist positions.
Drua struck back when Derenalagi popped a no-look overhead offload that begat a great run by Miramira who was no longer on the wall but rather storming down the right. He found fullback Kitione Ratu who stormed down the right and timed his pass inside perfectly for the exciting Onisi Ratave to score.
And Fiji – indeed rugby – was a happy place.
Rugby was then a conflicted, outraged and/or largely ambivalent place when the Brumbies eight-man driving maul allowed replacement hooker Connal McInerney to bind on behind the 7-headed horse and plunge over.
Ratave scored again in the corner and Drua celebrated being down 26-12 with 14 minutes to play.
“Next try wins,” reckoned Stan analyst Tim Horan; who was proved correct when Tom Wright bookended the game with his second try after a tidy exchange of passing.
Ryan Lonergan bunted through the conversion and the Brumbies had a bonus point win.