The Brumbies finals chances are still alive with a close 22-16 win over the Bulls in Canberra. It was a close game with neither side willing to give an inch that took two Henry Speight tries in the second half to secure the Brumbies the win.
The Match
The Brumbies came up against the Bulls with both teams season on the line in terms of making the finals with the Bulls looking to hit back from a disappointing tour of New Zealand where they went down to the Blues and Chiefs but they looked on for this game in the early minutes.
The Brumbies are known for quick starts and tried to start the game well coming off the bye but their attack couldn’t find any gaps in the Bulls defence.
Christian Lealiifano stepped up with two penalty shots but it looked like he’d brought the wrong boots as he missed two early chances in a game where points could come at a premium.
On the other hand, Handre Pollard brought his kicking boots and landed his first two shots to give them a valuable 6-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
The home side were trying to use their forwards to get them out of their own end with Ita Vaea putting in a big shift.
It was a game where the top teams in rolling mauls would attempt to use their strengths and it was the Bulls who were on top in that area.
There were also a high number of box kicks from either side with the game not really able to reach great heights.
The Brumbies suffered a blow with Sam Carter injuring his knee from the restart and needed to leave the field and would be he holding his breath on the extent of the injury.
His replacement Jordan Smiler got the opening try of the game after the Brumbies were finally able to get quick ball at the ruck and catch the Bulls defence on the back foot to make the score 8-6.
The Bulls scrum was getting on top with the Brumbies under immense pressure a number of times and they started off the second half with another three pointer to Pollard to get the Bulls back in front 9-8.
But the lead wouldn’t last too long with Henry Speight slicing through the Bulls midfield of Pollard and Odendaal from a scrum near halfway and ran untouched to the try line. Lealiifano converted to make it 15-9.
With 20 minutes to go Speight bagged his second of the night following another series of quick ball in the Bulls 22 that was started from a barnstorming run from Scott Fardy to lay the platform.
In the last 15 minutes the Bulls got a series of penalties and on the back of another rolling maul Labuschagne dived over to reduce the gap to six following Pollards conversion.
The Bulls looked to have the momentum in the last ten minutes but two calls went against them to let Brumbies off the hook with the Brumbies again winning a crucial penalty at the ruck.
The game really did go down to the wire with both sides having a crack at more points but neither side could add more points despite their best attempts to do so.
The Brumbies take on the Force in Perth next week whilst the Bulls take on the Rebels in Melbourne.
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The Game Changer
Speight’s two tries opened up the game to give the Brumbies a lead they wouldn’t give up.
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The G&GR MOTM
Ita Vaea – Had some important runs to relieve the pressure in the first half for the Brumbies.
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Wallaby Watch
Sam Carter suffered a nasty knee injury that on first look didn’t look good at all.
David Pocock was up to usual tricks around the ruck and maul, coming up with a few crucial steals.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 22
Tries: Smiler, Speight 2
Conversions: Lealiifano 2
Penalties: Lealiifano
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[one_half last=”yes”]BULLS 16
Tries: Labuschagne
Conversions: Pollard
Penalties: Pollard 3
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Cards
Nil
Crowd: 9,791
Photos by Ben Morris
