SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua captain Temo Mayanavanua has credited his side’s resilience and unity for their stunning 33-28 upset over the Brumbies in Canberra, saying the team arrived determined to “create history” rather than simply make up the numbers.
The Drua weathered early pressure at the breakdown, an area Mayanavanua admitted the Brumbies targeted.
“Brumbies knew that was one of our weaknesses, but credit to them they attacked that.
“But hats off to the boys as well for identifying that on the field,” Mayanavanua said.
The victory, one of the Drua’s biggest away wins in Super Rugby Pacific, was built on a strong mindset throughout the week, with players focused on making a statement performance.
“We talked about it the whole week, we want to create history, and we don’t want to just come and play and wait for the end of the season,” he added.
He also highlighted the emotional significance of the win for Samu Tawake, who marked his 50th match with a memorable performance.
“One of our boys Samu Tawake playing his 50th, and the ticker we saw from the group, willing to fight for each other, was second to none.”
Head coach Glen Jackson echoed his captain’s sentiments, describing the win in Canberra as one of the toughest challenges in Super Rugby.
“When we came, I told the boys this is the toughest place to win in Super Rugby. It’s the hardest.
“With the tough week we had, it’s just credit to the boys and their efforts as a group.”
Jackson believes the result will be a major boost for the squad as they continue to build experience and confidence at the top level.
“Now we get experience in terms of Super Rugby caps, so we are getting that momentum now. Winning on the road can go a long way.”
He added the win was special not just for Tawake, but also for players returning to the side, and acknowledged the team’s growing confidence after previous strong performances.
“Our best performance was against the Brumbies in Ba and we will make sure we get back better with a fresh start.
“The boys are happy and I thank them for playing their hearts out.”
He also pointed to the balance of experience and youth within the team, highlighting the influence of senior players.
“We have Temo, Virimi Vakatawa and guys that have played overseas, along with our foundation players. Our set piece and defence was good.”
Despite the result, Jackson stressed the job is far from over, with the Drua still chasing a playoff spot.
“We have seven games to go and we need to win at least five. We are now at two wins, so the pressure is rugby you know there is pressure in all sports,” he said.
The Drua will now look to build on the historic win as they push to keep their season alive in the remaining rounds.
