'One of a kind': Drua make history in thunderstorm to dampen celebrations for Brumbies star's 100th game
Updated . First published at
The Fijian Drua made history on Saturday with their first win over the ACT Brumbies, upsetting the high-flying Canberra club 42-27 in Ba.
It was also the first Super Rugby Pacific game in Ba, where players were greeted by an exuberant crowd, scorching heat in the first half and then a dramatic thunderstorm in the second.
The Brumbies had won all six of their previous meetings with the Drua, and managed to match their hosts with five tries.
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Etonia Waqa of the Fijian Drua scores a try during the round five Super Rugby match. Getty
Goalkicking proved the difference, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula booting 17 points and the Brumbies only getting two points for a solitary Tane Edmed conversion from the tee.
The Brumbies had more possession and territory but the Drua dominated the collisions with 123m post-contact metres to 60.
"We dominated the possession and territory in the first half, and we just didn't capitalise," Brumbies captain Andy Muirhead bemoaned.
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"From our mistakes and inviting them into our half through discipline, and then they obviously went to the half with a lead (20-12).
"Then they got into a bit of Fiji rugby and we weren't clinical enough to close out opportunities either."
Rising lock Toby Macpherson scored two tries for the Brumbies, with Hudson Creighton, Ryan Lonergan and Muirhead grabbing the others.
Drua fullback Ilaisa Droasese scored a classy double and he was joined on the scoreboard by Etonia Waqa, Elia Canakaivata and debutant hooker Sairusi Ravudi.
"We've got to get to a review and see what what didn't work for us," the in-form Muirhead said.
"We know that our game is good enough to win when we execute on our game plan and there's some areas today that are a little bit off.
"Short turnaround to a really tough game against the Chiefs, so we've got to have a goldfish memory about this one."
The loss left the 3-2 Brumbies in second place behind the Hurricanes.
It also dampened the celebrations of their star flanker Rob Valetini, who played his 100th game for the club in front of his loved ones.
"I wanted to make it special, to have my 100 here, in front of my family and friends," Valetini, who has Fijian heritage, said.
"It was just awesome to come here and play. My family's made a lot of sacrifices for me.
"It was always a dream to play one game, so to notch up 100 is very special, and to do it in Fiji - I never thought that could happen."
Valetini was impressed with the atmosphere in Fiji.
"I haven't experienced it yet and that was one of a kind," he said.
"The crowd was loud but unfortunately we gave them a head start at the start there and we weren't able to come back."
