Drua v Brumbies, Rd 1 2025, Feb 15 1:35pm
- Thread starter Sully
- Start date
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Will be interesting to watch how Larkham's tactic with the Wallaby contingent plays out. Will be the first hitout for Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Frost, Valetini (if fit - apparently being given extra time to see if he can play), Ikitau and Wright, all of them having missed the two trials.
Will they be fresh and better able to cope with the conditions? Or will their match fitness count against them? Will cohesion be an issue?
Will they be fresh and better able to cope with the conditions? Or will their match fitness count against them? Will cohesion be an issue?
Yoda
Vay Wilson (31)
And will they take a full strength side or go for the back ups thinking it better in a tough Fiji game first up?
whitefalcon
Ron Walden (29)
no, no they will not.
A lot of depth to be tested here
BRUMBIES (1-15): Blake Schoupp, Billy Pollard, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tuaina Tualima, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Austin Anderson, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Rhys van Nek, Cadeyrn Neville, Judah Saumaisue, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Kadin Pritchard
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
Super Rugby Pacific Round One Injury/Unavailability list
*TBC time/injury unless specified
Brumbies
*TBC time/injury unless specified
Brumbies
- Charlie Cale (shoulder/ round 3):
- David Feliuai (finger/ round 3):
- Rob Valetini (hamstring / TBC):
- Ben O’Donnell (hamstring/ TBC)
- Tevita Alatini (ACL / TBC)
- Harry Vella (ACL / TBC)
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Has played in both trials. I'm sure he wouldn't mind being called a lesser version of Rob Valetini, both in looks and in performance. Not a bad rugby player by any measure.
EDIT : Played mostly, maybe wholly, at No 8 after Scott came off in the second half.
whitefalcon
Ron Walden (29)
I was wondering if he was the Bobby dopelganger. He played well
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Will be a big challenge for the pack with 5 Wallabies not playing. The backline will give a good account if they have good minutes with the ball.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Reimer has a big part to play in the pace of the game.
He's a guy that can slow the breakdown and momentum of the Drua if they get going which in the conditions will be key. Lonergan and Noah need to bring an A grade kicking game.
He's a guy that can slow the breakdown and momentum of the Drua if they get going which in the conditions will be key. Lonergan and Noah need to bring an A grade kicking game.
Saturday 15 February 2:35 pm AEDT – Fijian Drua v Brumbies at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport
DRUA (1-15): Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (co-c), Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Leone Rotuisolia, Joseva Tamani, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Caleb Muntz, Vuate Karawalevu, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Ponipate Loganimasi, Isikeli Rabitu
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Livai Natave, Meli Tuni, Vilive Miramira, Isoa Tuwai, Frank Lomani (co-c), Peni Matawalu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
BRUMBIES (1-15): Blake Schoupp, Billy Pollard, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Austin Anderson, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Rhys van Nek, Cadeyrn Neville, Judah Saumaisue, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Kadin Pritchard
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant Referees: Michael Winter & Stu Curran
TMO: Marcus Playle
DRUA (1-15): Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (co-c), Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Leone Rotuisolia, Joseva Tamani, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Caleb Muntz, Vuate Karawalevu, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Ponipate Loganimasi, Isikeli Rabitu
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Livai Natave, Meli Tuni, Vilive Miramira, Isoa Tuwai, Frank Lomani (co-c), Peni Matawalu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
BRUMBIES (1-15): Blake Schoupp, Billy Pollard, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Austin Anderson, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Rhys van Nek, Cadeyrn Neville, Judah Saumaisue, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Kadin Pritchard
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant Referees: Michael Winter & Stu Curran
TMO: Marcus Playle
Happy
Alex Ross (28)
The Wallabies not selected are not allowed to play more than 6 games straight under the resting policy for the Lions. Missing this game means they don’t have to miss another game all season with the Byes. Plus hopefully their inclusion next week will help with the post-Fiji slump all the other teams seemed to suffer.
Rudderless
Nev Cottrell (35)
- Expect a record to be broken - the Brumbies have never lost to the Fijian Drua, but the Fijian Drua have never lost to an Australian team in Fiji. Which record will still stand on Saturday?
- The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will field two Olympics Silver Medallists from Paris 2024 - Iosefo Masi and Ponipate Loganimasi in the starting line-up against Brumbies. Masi is also the Fijian Drua’s all-time leading try scorer with 16 tries.
- Co-Captain Tevita Ikanivere has the most Fijian Drua appearances with 38, while the other co-captain Frank Lomani has the most Super Rugby appearances in the squad with 53.
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Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Very stable team too. 3 debutants out of 23 is impressive.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Brumbies phoning this one in and using it as the rest for Wallabies to then play all the games consecutive before their scheduled bye.