Brumbies take round two victory over gutsy Fijian Drua

The Brumbies have taken a 42-3 victory over the Fijian Drua at GIO Stadium in the two sides first ever meeting in Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific.

Seven tries will please head coach Dan McKellar but a fifteen-minute defensive stand and none conceded for the eighty minutes will be the victory the Brumbies will take from the wet, Saturday afternoon clash against an improving Fijian side.

The first and closing twenty minutes were when the Brumbies did their best work of the day, hooker Lachlan Lonergan opening the scoring from a trademark rolling drive.

Tom Banks put his own unique mark on the fixture, scoring a vintage fullback try having received the ball inside his own half.

Len Ikitau would cross next close to the line, the Drua adding three points of their own, the Brumbies leaving a handful of tries out on the field as they ran in for half time.

Tom Wright would bag his second try of the year just after half time, but that would also spell a change in fortune for the Drua, albeit not on the scoresheet.

The Drua were the better side for much of the play after the break, but some stout Brumbies defence kept the visitors at bay, and the Drua just couldn’t get across the chalk.

When the Brumbies did break out, their attack was clinical. Rob Valetini was next to get in on the act, busting over in round two as he did in 2021.

Fan-favourite Jesse Mogg was superb off the bench, and ran in the final two tries off the day to cap a 42-3 victory at GIO Stadium.

Brumbies 42 (T: L.Lonergan, Banks, Ikitau, Wright, Valetini, Mogg 2; C: Lolesio 2; P: Lolesio) def Fijian Drua 3 (P: Kerr)

The Brumbies will play the NSW Waratahs in Round three of Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday 5 March at 7:45pm AEDT