Larkham expects tough Drua clash

ACT Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham is expecting a tough clash against the Fijian Drua in Saturday’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash at Four R Stadium in Ba.

Larkham made the comment after their 31-34 loss to Queensland Reds on Saturday night at the GIO Stadium in Canberra.

He said it would tough since they are taking two flights to get to Fiji.

“We’ve got some pretty awkward travel to get over there ...We have to go on Thursday ... which means we can’t train on Thursday,” Larkham said.

“We lose a day with travel on the way back, and then it’s into a six-day turnaround for the Chiefs.”

It was first-five eighth Carter Gordon who stepped up in Reds moment of need to give them a gripping win. With the Brumbies leading by 11 points with five minutes remaining, they looked in the box seat to claim a fourth consecutive win and continue their perfect start to the season.

But Les Kiss’s Reds refused to give up, with Filipo Daugunu crossing in the 78th minute before Gordon secured the win with a post-siren diving try at a soggy GIO Stadium on Saturday.

Whether Gordon’s try should have counted was contentious after Daugunu looked to have knocked the ball on from the kickoff after his try.

Still, the referees didn’t call it, and the decision allowed the Wallabies playmaker to cap off a stunning re-turn to the competition as he only played his first Super Rugby game since 2024 last Friday after a stint with Gold Coast in the NRL.

Having lost their last 11 from 12 matches in Canberra, Queensland struggled to find a solution to the Brumbies’ second-half rigid de-fence, coughing up 18 turnovers to the home side’s 14.

But the Reds found a new gear and emerged victorious.

“We took a while to respond. The emotion was high in the coaching box, that’s for sure,” Kiss said

“I’ve really enjoyed the way that Carter’s been very generous in terms of how he sees the game. It’s helped the younger guys.

“That’s what’s given him a good platform to come back into rugby.”

The Reds will have to sweat on the fitness of outside back Lachie Anderson, though, after he was taken to the hospital in another blow to the already battered side.

Queensland’s victory overshadowed athletic backrower Charlie Cale’s prolific performance for the Brumbies as he continued to make his case for a Wallabies return, scoring two tries to bring his sea-son tally to seven in four games.

Without Rob Valetini (rest), Corey Toole (leg tightness), and Ollie Sapsford (hamstring), the Brumbies faced an uphill battle.