FRESH off their thrilling 28-24 victory over the Chiefs in Lautoka, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua have now turned their attention to a formidable challenge ahead, taking on the Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra this Friday at 8.35pm.
The Glen Jackson coached side started their 2025 Super Rugby campaign with a narrow 32-36 loss to the Brumbies in Suva, a game that could have gone either way.
Historically, the Brumbies have been a stumbling block for the Fijian franchise, with the Drua yet to register a victory over the Australian powerhouse. But with renewed confidence and momentum, can the Drua finally rewrite history and claim a maiden win this Friday night?
Lessons learned, Jackson, reflecting on the Drua’s journey so far, is keen to build on their recent success.
“It’s a quick turnaround for us, just six days, but we’re looking forward to being on the road in Canberra. The Brumbies had a great win against the Blues, so they’ll be confident. But for us, it’s about executing what we’ve worked on over the last four weeks,” Jackson said.
He acknowledged that the Drua were not at their best in their first encounter against the Brumbies but sees this early rematch as an opportunity to rectify their shortcomings.
“We didn’t quite do what we wanted in that first round, so it’s good to get them again early. Now, we can put into practice everything we’ve built over the past few weeks.”
The Brumbies are a well-drilled unit, coming off an impressive win over the Blues on Saturday. Their structured play, discipline, and ability to control the tempo have often troubled the Drua’s fast-paced, offloading game.
However, if the Drua can capitalize on their attacking brilliance and maintain composure in crucial moments, an upset in Canberra is not out of reach.
The match will also be a test of endurance, with the Drua facing the challenges of a short recovery period and adapting to playing away from their passionate home crowd. Yet, as they have shown in past seasons, they thrive on defying the odds.
