The Brumbies 2016 season is over after they went down to the Highlanders 15-9 in a tough battle in Canberra tonight. The Highlanders defence was too much for the Brumbies as they held them tryless and scored two of their own to progress to the semi finals and snap a 10 year losing streak in Canberra.
The Match
The Brumbies were immediately on the back foot from a Highlanders scrum with an overlap with only scrambling defence keeping the Highlanders out but a series of penalties right near the try line saw the Highlanders open the scoring a penalty goal to Lima Sopoaga after five minutes.
Right off the restart the Brumbies had a chance to hit back from a scrum penalty following a scrum off a knock on but Lealiifano couldn’t convert.
He wouldn’t miss with a simple shot from in front after the highlanders kicked the 22m out on the full and conceded another scrum penalty.
The conditions were making it tough for expansive play but the Brumbies were able to make good metres in the wet and if not for a brilliant tackle on Kuridrani after bursting through a gap, the Brumbies would have scored the opening try but instead had to settle for another penalty goal to make it 6-3.
The Highlanders had limited chances in the opening 30 minutes but were being repelled by the Brumbies with their discipline coming under scrutiny from referee Angus Gardner in their own red zone. Even with the Brumbies scrum getting on top, their lineout was becoming a problem with a number of throws being picked off by the Highlanders in key positions.
The Brumbies were reverting to box kicks that were a lottery in the swirling wind but the Highlanders also had a few kick tricks up their sleeve with Patrick Osborne coming close to scoring on one occasion from a cross field kick.
Just before the half time break, the Highlanders pressure with the ball was too much for the Brumbies to defend and Waisake Naholo scored out wide and the same movement saw Matt Toomua sent to the bin for multiple infringements. Sopoaga converted from out wide to make it 10-6.
The second half started with an early penalty to the Brumbies but Lealiifano’s attempt hit the post for his second miss of the night which in a tight game could prove costly.
Sopoaga had his shot at extending the Highlanders lead from wide out but he too couldn’t find the mark to leave it at 10-6.
The Brumbies had limited chances to attack from the rolling maul and had rare chance to attack in the Highlanders 22 from a sniping run from Tomas Cubelli but could only settle for another penalty goal to reduce the gap to one point at 10-9.
Sopoaga had a shot at penalty goal also hit the post that the Brumbies got out of jail following a comical piece of play that saw Toomua slip as he attempted to clear.
The Brumbies tried to run a move from the lineout but it came undone and was intercepted and Matt Faddes set sail for the line but was brought down by Toua but the the numbers out wide for the Highlanders saw Liam Squire go over for their second try of the night to make it 15-9.
With 20 minutes to go, the Brumbies had their best chance of getting over the line but again the lineout failed them only five metres out and the Highlanders were off the hook.
The experience of the Highlanders started to come to the fore getting them out of trouble and grinding the Brumbies down and making them play in their own half of the field.
With time running down, the Brumbies needed a miracle and it looked like they had one with Lausii Taliauli over the line with a big drive in behind him but the TMO couldn’t see the ball grounded to award the try.
The Brumbies had one last chance to get over the line but the Highlanders defence held the Brumbies out and pushed them back as they resorted to pick and drives well after the full time siren and it all come down to the ball going into touch to end the game at 15-9 to the Highlanders.
‘Oh Yeah, that’s it’….
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The Game Changer
The Brumbies lineout. Let them down badly in crucial periods of the game including a loss only five metres out from the Highlanders line and missed the injured Rory Arnold tonight.
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The G&GR MOTM
Lima Sopoaga – Controlled the Highlanders backline well in the tough conditions.
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Wallaby Watch
David Pocock was back to his best after returning from injury. He and Scott Fardy had to get through a mountain of work in conditions made for forwards.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 9
Penalties: Lealiifano 3
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[one_half last=”yes”]HIGHLANDERS 15
Tries: Naholo, Squire
Conversions: Sopoaga
Penalties: Sopoaga
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Cards
37 min – Toomua (Brumbies) – Yellow
Crowd
8,559
Photos courtesy Tim Anger
