The Brumbies have marked the return to Super Rugby with a strong 43-24 bonus point win over the Reds in Canberra. The Reds led the match early 10-0 but couldn’t keep pace with the Brumbies in the second half in the six tries to three win.
The Match
It was a very scratchy start for both sides with a number of turnovers in the opening minutes not allowing either side to get any rhythm that also saw Brumbies rookie Ben Hyne having to leave the field after just five minutes with an ankle injury.
Liam Gill was keen to make up for lost time and was heavily involved in keeping the Brumbies at bay with a number of turnovers in the opening exchanges.
The Reds showed some early promise with Samu Kerevi putting away Chris Kuridrani down the right side but could only come away with a penalty goal to Henry Taefu, who took the kicking duties from the injured Jake McIntyre.
The visitors spent the majority of the next five minutes camped down in the Brumbies 22 on the back of a number of penalties and from a rolling maul, Andrew Ready burrowed over for the opening try.
The Brumbies threatened to attack to Reds line but dropped ball, which had featured too much in the opening half, let them down and all they could manage from their first real excursion into the Reds 22 was a penalty goal to Christian Lealiifano after Liam Gill was ruled to have tackled without arms.
As a game of rugby threatened to break out, it took the Brumbies 30 minutes to finally hit their straps and slowly build some phase play pressure in the Reds 22 with a sequence of nearly 20 phases.
A penalty against the Reds saw the Brumbies resort to the rolling maul weapon and Stephen Moore joined his Reds counterpart on the score sheet and Lealiifano’s conversion made it 10-10.
Just on the stroke of half time, the Reds received a penalty but Nick Frisby couldn’t find touch in the Brumbies 22 to launch one last possible raid before the break and then the Reds found themselves behind after Ben Alexander got the try via the TMO after good involvement form Nigel Ah Wong and Scott Fardy down the right wing to put the Brumbies in front 15-10.
The second half started with the Brumbies on attack but a great turnover from Andrew Ready saw the Reds launch a long distance raid that would have resulted in a superb try to Samu Kerevi if Eto Nabuli hadn’t grazed the touchline in the lead up.
To rub salt into the wounds of the Reds, the Brumbies got a penalty in the Reds 22 after Frisby was ruled to have deliberately knocked on and again the Brumbies went to the rolling maul and again it was Stephen Moore off the back for his second of the night.
But the Reds hit back not long after in an unusual passage of play that saw the Reds intercept and kick ahead, awarded a penalty for their player being taken out in the chase and then quick thinking from Gill saw the Reds with an overlap and replacement Duncan Paia’aua scored to close the gap to 22-17.
The see sawing game continued in the final 20 minutes as both sides rung the changes with Kane Douglas and Leroy Houston marking their returns to Super Rugby but it was Brumbies replacement scrum half Tomas Cubelli who found some space around the fringes and sent Lealiifano on his way to the line and convert his own try to restore the margin to 12 points.
The pressure was too much for the Reds as the Brumbies blew out the score in the final 10 minutes with Cubelli scoring from close range and that was followed up with a try out wide to Lausii Taliauli.
The Reds did have one last try in them to the ‘Tongan Thor’, Taniela Tupou, to make the final score 43-24.
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The Game Changer
The mistake from Nick Frisby on half time and the Reds disallowed try early in the second half that would have put them back in front and kept them just out of reach of the Brumbies.
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The G&GR MOTM
Christian Leallifano – Took a while to get into the game but the backline finally clicked and his goal kicking was very good on the night.
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Wallaby Watch
The Samu Kerevi v Tevita Kurdrani battle was won by Kerevi with his tackle busts causing problems for the Brumbies.
Stephen Moore had a mixed game with 2 tries off rolling mauls and Liam Gill showed he’s still worth plenty at International level with a number of crucial turnovers.
Matt Toomua was a welcome inclusion to the Brumbies backline.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 43
Tries: Moore 2, Alexander, Lealiifano, Cubelli, Taliauli
Conversions: Lealiifano 5
Penalties: Lealiifano
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[one_half last=”yes”]REDS 24
Tries: Ready, Paia’aua, Tupou
Conversions: Taefu 3
Penalties: Taefu
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Cards
Nil
Crowd
9,380
