A Len Ikitau hat-trick helped set up a comprehensive victory for the Brumbies, who recorded their first home victory of 2025 with a 38-21 triumph over the Fijian Drua at GIO Stadium.
Ikitau, who head coach Stephen Larkham regards “as the best defensive outside centre in the world” recorded the first hat-trick of his Super Rugby career, with further tries coming from Ryan Lonergan, Andy Muirhead and Luke Reimer.
A noticeably satisfied Larkham spoke to the complete performance of his side.
"I'm pleased with the way that we finished," Larkham said.
"We had a good start to the game. I thought the boys were pretty exceptional in the first half.
“It’s been a tough road to start, not that I’m complaining about it. For us to go to Fiji, then come back and then head to New Zealand for two weeks, there is a bit of fatigue amongst the boys.”
The Brumbies’ defence received an early test from the Fijians, who were unable to convert a long passage of play into any points.
The script was flipped at the other end, as the opening 10 minutes concluded with a Fijian turnover just short of their own try-line.
The home side turned to Andy Muirhead for some inspiration, as the star winger nailed a 50 22 from deep within his own half.
A bold decision to kick for the corner looked set to bear fruit for the home side, before hooker Billy Pollard was held up over the tryline in the 13th minute.
Centre Len Ikitau showcased his strength and versatility to eventually break the deadlock, burrowing in for a 20th minute try worthy of a front rower.
It only took two minutes for the home side to repeat the dose, as Ryan Lonergan extended the lead to 14. The scrumhalf pounced with glee at the gap in the Drua’s defence, as the Brumbies began to stamp their authority on the match.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the men from the capital, as Elia Canakaivata capitalised on a period of extended pressure from the visitors, opening their account in the 27th minute.
Any shift in momentum was short-lived, however, as Ikitau doubled his tally off the back of a desperate intercept attempt by the Fijians. Ikitau’s second try saw the margin return to 14, as the score read 21-7 in the 30th minute.
Fittingly for Round 5, our Brumbies resembled kids in a candy store as Tom Wright’s silky footwork sent Muirhead over in the corner to cap off an emphatic first-half performance.
Returning fly-half Noah Lolesio had a chance to push the margin to 24, though his penalty attempt struck the left upright, causing chaotic scenes in which both sides scrambled for possession. It was the Fijians who sent the ball into touch, trailing 28-7 at the break.
Determined to get back into the match, the Drua came out firing to reduce the margin to 14, courtesy of a Motikiai Murray try in the 41st minute.
A clever 48th minute chip from fly-half Isaih Armstrong-Ravula found an unlikely target in Tevita Ikanivere, as the Drua continued to drag themselves back into the contest.
As all good teams do, the Brumbies responded in an instant (one minute to be exact), with yet another piece of Tom Wright magic sending Ikitau over for his hattrick, which brought the score to 33-21
The Fijians looked to have given the home side a taste of their own medicine, converting a rolling maul into 5 points in the 57th minute. That was before video replay showed the ball coming loose from the grasp of the Fijian attacker, which saw the try chalked off.
The contest remained an arm-wrestle until the 75th minute of the match, when the Drua piled on the pressure close to the Brumbies line.
Who else would it have been but Luke Reimer to produce the match-sealing turn-over with three minutes to play, whose impact off the bench cannot be overstated.
A yellow card (later upgraded to red) for Motikiai Murray in the 79th summed up an indifferent night for the Fijians, before Reimer emerged yet again to have the final say in the match, which ended 38-21.
The Brumbies head to Sydney to take on arch rivals the Waratahs, a match that Larkham thinks will be the “best game this season… we’ll sit back now and watch the rest of this round”
Skipper Allan Alaalatoa praised the immense challenge the Fijians presented “We expected a physical game and we definitely got that.” As for his the side’s plans for next week? “Recover well over the weekend, take it one day at a time and really focus on our preparation.”
