It was a top of the table clash with the first place Sharks taking on the second place Brumbies in Canberra. A side story also included the return of Jake White back to Canberra for the first time since he left the Brumbies last year.
The Match
The Brumbies have held on for a tense 16-9 win over the table topping Sharks in a wet Canberra. The game never reached any heights with kicking the order of the game that resembled and AFL match. The Brumbies will take the four points and give them confidence after bouncing back from last weeks heavy defeat to the Crusaders.
The Sharks kicked off and immediately Brumbies winger Joe Tomane made a break down field, leaving Sharks defenders in his wake. From that break the Sharks were penalised for slowing the ball down and Christian Lealiifano stepped up to open the scoring to make it 3-0.
The next passage of play was more reminiscent of a school yard forcings back contest with nether team prepared to throw the ball around in the wet conditions.
The Sharks finally got a chance to level after Stephen Moore was penalised for holding down Cobus Reinach but Frans Steyn missed that chance and then also missed another shot just minutes later.
It was third time lucky for Steyn when he levelled the scores after another penalty conceded by the Brumbies in their own half within the first 15 minutes.
Photos by Michael Thompson
The Brumbies received a double blow from the restart with both Tevita Kuridrani and Joe Tomane having to leave the field due to injury from heavy contact in tackles although Kuridrani would later return after passing a concussion test.
The Sharks had the better of the territory on the back of Steyn’s field kicking and were winning the breakdown area with a number of counter rucks turning over the Brumbies possession which wasn’t helped by not finding touch when receiving penalties.
After 30 minutes Steyn had tough chance from the left sideline to take the lead but he missed his third kick of the half to leave the scores level. His kicking woes continued when he also failed to find touch from a penalty with his effort going dead in goal.
With the half winding down, Lealiifano finally broke the deadlock with his second penalty of the night to make it 6-3 and from the restart, Steyn almost landed it in the crowd to give the Brumbies a scrum on halfway. Another high ball from the Brumbies was kicked and Movovo knocked on just outside the Sharks 22 and from that scrum the Sharks were penalised. Lealiifano took the shot at goal on half time but missed to leave the score at 6-3.
The Sharks started the second half with all the ball and managed to steal a number of the Brumbies lineouts and put them on the back foot. They attacked the Brumbies line and were awarded a penalty that earned the Brumbies a warning from referee Glen Jackson for cynical play and Steyn levelled the scores at 6-6.
The scores wouldn’t stay level for long with the Brumbies getting a penalty and Lealiifano put the Brumbies in front again at 9-6.
The Brumbies enjoyed the better of the next period of play on the back of their scrum starting to get on top of the Sharks. One Lealiifano penalty goal attempt hit the post and incredibly his next shot shortly after also hit the upright.
Finally the crowd awoke from their slumber after a break was made by Pat McCabe down the right wing. With the Brumbies on attack, Bismarck du Plessis stole the ball to stop that raid.
From the resulting lineout, the Brumbies swung it right for one phase then Nic White held a pass for Sam Carter to steam through untouched to score the first try of the night after 63 minutes on the clock. Lealiifano’s conversion made the difference 10 points.
With the game entering the last 10 minutes, the Sharks received a relieving penalty after Pat McCabe tackled a Sharks player in the air and from that the Sharks reduced the gap to seven points after Steyn’s third penalty.
The Sharks were hot on attack in the Brumbies 22 but they lost the ball and tensions boiled over with a few handbags to get the crowd fired up with little else to cheer until that point.
The Sharks had one last chance on attack but the ball was knocked on and the Brumbies held on for a 16-9 win.
The Brumbies now head to South Africa to take on the Cheetahs on the first of their two game tour.
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The Game Changer
Not many highlights, but Sam Carter’s try broke open the game.
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The G&GR MOTM
A tough game to choose one after so much kicking but Sam Carter should be starting to put his name in Wallabies selectors minds.
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Wallaby Watch
A tough game across the board in the conditions. Fardy was impressive against a physical Sharks pack. Moore’s battle with Bismarck du Plessis was a highlight.
Christian Lealiifano is starting to get back into the swing of things but struggled with his goal kicking.
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The Details
Crowd: 11,615
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 16
Tries: Carter
Conversions: Lealiifano
Penalties: Lealiifano 3
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[one_half last=”yes”]SHARKS 9
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties: Steyn 3
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