Swire Shipping Fijian Drua centre, Inia Tabuavou, believes they must work on completing their phases and control the momentum of the game.

He told SUNsports they need to perfect this before the opening round of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition on February 15.

The Drua takes on ACT Brumbies at Suva’s HFC Stadium.

We have heaps of time to work on that before we take on the Brumbies at home, the former Racing 92 rep said after their 33-26 win in their pre-season clash against RFC Los Angeles in Lautoka, last Friday.

We’ll just go back to the drawing board and see our mistakes in the pre-season match.

Tabuavou said who is making his Super Rugby debut said it was an exciting experience for him to don the Fijian Drua jersey.

I’m grateful to experience the heat and humidity at home in our pre-season match against the Los Angeles club, he said.

Unity is our team’s strength. I can see and feel this during our training and off the field as well.

Were very grateful that we feel at home when we train and off the field with the team’s management.

Tabuavou is expected to play at second-five eighth during the Super Rugby competition.

Prop to lead Brumbies

Meanwhile, Allan Alaalatoa will skipper the Brumbies for the sixth year in a row after successfully returning from an ACL injury in 2024. For me, it’s always an honour to go out there and lead the club, especially being the Brumbies who gave me my first opportunity to live my dream,” Alaalatoa told Super Rugby Pacific Media

“It’s always an honour to be skipper of this club.

“There’s been plenty of growth and you learn a lot being a leader, probably more so how I want to lead and the different changes that I make throughout the year and how much you lean on the other boys.

“I’m so grateful I have a strong leadership group behind me who also take a lot of the right and push standards on the field.”

The Brumbies have been frustrating close to the final in the past two seasons, falling at the semi-final.

“We’ve got to understand that we’re making the semi-finals so we’re not doing too much wrong,” Alaalatoa insists.

“There’s a whole last part of the program that is giving us every opportunity to be a quality and consistent side but we are missing that little bit. For us, it was important to highlight the good stuff we’re doing over the last few years but also understand the shifts we need to make.”

On the Brumbies side for a title push is they are one of few clubs in 2025 to maintain a consistent roster, with close to 30 players returning for this season.

Wallabies squad member David Feliuai was the main signing, replacing outgoing midfielder Tamati Tua.

Feedback:  ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj