The Brumbies have become the first Australian franchise side to win on Fiji soil after defeating the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua 36-32 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this afternoon.
The Brumbies started strongly with a converted try in the 3rd minute to lead 7-0 before the Drua came back and levelled the score 7-all with a converted try to Simione Kuruvoli.
The home side were reduced to 14 men in the 19th minute after fullback Isikeli Rabitu was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
Brumbies capitalised on the 1 man advantage to score an unconverted try in the corner in the 20th minute to regain a 12-7 lead.
The Drua was further reduced to 13 men after winger Vuate Karawalevu was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on in the 24th minute which the Brumbies took advantage of and scored another unconverted try to extend their lead to 17-7.
Caleb Muntz reduced the gap to 17-13 with two penalty kicks at goal in the 28th and 31st minute respectively.
The Drua took the lead for the first time in the match after winger Ponipate Loganimasi scored a well-worked converted try in the 36th minute on his debut to give them a 20-17 lead heading into the break.
The Brumbies scored a converted try in the 49th minute to regain the lead 24-20 before the Drua scored another unconverted try through Vuate Karawalevu in the 54th minute to take a 25-24 lead.
Karawalevu scored his second try of the match in the 63rd minute with the conversion successful to extend their lead to 32-24 before the Brumbies scored two consecutive tries in the 70th and 75th minute to take a 36-32 lead.
The Drua tried their best to make a come back in the last few minutes but the Brumbies held on in defence to win the game.
Match Updates:
-Drua perform na-I-Bole
-Brumbies to kick off
-Knock on by the Drua
-Brumbies scrum
1" Ref playing penalty advantage to Brumbies
2"Noah Lolesio kicking for touch, Brumbies lineout 5 metres from Drua line, TRY!!
Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard gets the first try
Brumbies 7-0 Drua
5" Drua stringing the phases together before kicking away possesion
7" Knock on Brumbies, scrum for the Drua
9" Double knock on, Drua scrum
10" Knock on by Caleb Muntz, Brumbies scrum
11" Ball very slippery as both sides have continously knocked the ball on
So far it has been a game of scrums
13" Cankaivata with a beautiful run from the base of the scrum, before the ball is kicked full out after it was carried back onto the 22
15" TRY !!! Simione Kuruvoli through for the Drua's first after Ikanivere splits the defence
Drua 7-7 Brumbies
18" YELLOW CARD to Isikeli Rabitu,
TRY!! Brumbies taking advantage of the overlap
Drua 7-12 Brumbies
Mandatory drinks break
21" Muntz covering at fullback clears into touch
22" Canakaivata forces a penalty, Muntz kicks to touch as they try and catch up to the Brumbies.
Good news as the Yellow Card to Rabitu remains a Yellow
YELLOW CARD to Vuate Karawalevu for deliberately knocking the ball down. Drua now down to 13 men.
25" TRY!! Ryan Lonergan going down the blindside
Drua 7-17 Brumbies
27" Drua scrum on Brumbies 22
Advantage to the Drua
Inside the 22
Tackler not rolling away
29" Penalty converted by Muntz
Drua 10-17 Brumbies
30" Lolesio knocks the ball on, Drua scrum
32" Brumbies penalised, Ikanivere points at the posts
Drua 13-17 Brumbies
34" Brumbies knock it on and Loganimasi runs it out to the 50 m before being bundled into touch
37" TRY!! Loganimasi gets a try on debut!!
Drua 20-17 Brumbies
Half-time
40" Drua scrum
42" Ref calls play back for an offside by Drua
44" Drua pull one from the fire with their stoic defence with a scrum 5m from their try line
Kuruvoli clears from the scrum
46" Miramira on for Rotuisolia
49" TRY by Brumbies brings them ahead of Drua
Drua 20-24 Brumbies
47" Drua penalised for not releasing
TRY!!
TRY!!
Drua 20-22 Brumbies
Another try on debut for Vuate Karawalevu
Break from Canakaivata who passes to Frank Lomani who then passes to Karawalevu to dot down in the corner
Drua 25-24 Brumbies
Karawalevu gets his second try for the Drua
Drua 32-24 Brumbies
Knock on by Brumbies
67" Lolesio kicking for touch, Brumbies lineout on the 5 metre TRY!!
Luke Reimer dots down in the corner from the lineout
Drua 32-29 Brumbies
10 minutes to go
Mesulame Dolokoto on for Ikanivere
Samu Tawake back on the field for Meli Tuni
73" Brumbies penalty, Drua not releasing
Brumbies going for the corner again where they have been very successful off the lineout
TRY!!
Reimer gets another one
Drua 32-36 Brumbies
76" Brumbies knock on, Drua scrum
77" Drua had the possession but Loganimasi kicks it away
78" Brumbies scrum after Drua knock it on from lineout
Will that Loganimasi kick come back and haunt the Drua?
Brumbies winding down the clock, kicking it out
Last play
Full-time
Drua 32-36 Brumbies
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