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Brumbies crush Fijian Drua to cruise to Super Rugby Pacific victory

(Photo by GARY RAMAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brumbies have turned on a ruthless display to crush newcomers Fijian Drua 42-3 in a Super Rugby Pacific blowout at Canberra Stadium.

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The Brumbies were 20-0 ahead inside 25 minutes on Saturday afternoon and went on with the job, scoring seven tries in total while conceding none.

Fresh from his last-minute, match-winning try against Western Force last round, Lachie Lonergan crossed the line first on 10 minutes as the Brumbies’ powerful rolling maul brutalised Drua’s forward pack.

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They quickly extended that advantage as fullback Tom Banks broke through for an outstanding try, running from inside his own half and burning off multiple opponents to make  it 13-0.

After it looked like they’d steadied somewhat, Drua’s defence was again breached on 24 minutes as Irae Simone played a perfect ball for centre Len Ikitau to crash over the line.

The Fijians created some attack of their own with winger Vinaya Habosi producing a brilliant run and flick pass that almost put teammate through, while a second Lonergan try was chalked off by the TMO for a knock-on.

The contest turned into a fascinating forwards battle with the Drua front-row taking over at the scrum and forcing a number of penalties after their big men had been overpowered by the Brumbies’ maul.

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Fullback Baden Kerr put Drua on the board minutes before halftime, knocking over a penalty for a 20-3 scoreline.

But the Brumbies started the second stanza immediately on the attack and scored after a scrum deep in Drua territory, with Ryan Lonergan sending winger Tom Wright clear to score in the corner.

Rob Valetini scored a try on 55 minutes following another lineout deep in attack while the Fijians were cruelly denied by the TMO when Ratu Rotuisolia dived over from close range and looked to have scored 10 minutes later.

They kept pressing and spent much of the game’s late stages deep in Brumbies territory searching for a try but the hosts’ defensive line held up brilliantly, before substitute winger Jesse Mogg rubbed salt into the wound with a pair of late tries in either corner.

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Drua’s discipline was lacking early, conceding three penalties in the opening 10 minutes, but they steadied and won the penalty count 17-11 with their powerful scrum forcing most of those.

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AM 41 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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