An inspired performance from Brumbies flanker Michael Hooper has helped the Brumbies overcome a gallant Otago Highlanders side 33-26 at Canberra Stadium.
In a match that was dominated by both sets of forwards, it would be the Brumbies who came away with the win in a match that went right down to the wire to keep the Brumbies home winning streak in 2012 intact.
The Brumbies got off to a perfect start when NRL convert Joe Tomane accepted an intercept pass and ran untouched to the line to open the scoring in the 5th minute. From then on it seemed the hosts were happy to allow the Highlanders to play with the ball and kicked away the ball waiting for a mistake. Colin Slade got the visitors on the board with a drop goal after declining the penalty advantage.
Tomane then bagged his second try of the night after a turnover and centre Andrew Smith sliced through the defence to allow Tomane to step inside the last defender and stretch the lead to 14-3. This play was a perfect example of what can happen if the ball is kept in hand from a turnover.
The Brumbies were then the recipients of a questionable penalty when hooker Stephen Moore was adjudged to have been tackled early when attempting to collect a pass from Christian Lealiifano. Despite ruling a knock on initially, referee Lourens van der Merwe was advised from assistant referee Marius Jonker that a penalty should be awarded. Lealiifano stepped up to make the score 17-3.
The Highlanders then got themselves back into the game slowly with a Colin Slade penalty, then a well worked move by the Highlanders backs saw winger Hosea Gear escape defenders and send Aaron Smith over and with Slade’s conversion the Brumbies lead was cut to 4 points. In the shadows of half time, the Brumbies were able to convert another penalty to make it 20-13 at half time.
The second half was much the same with the forwards battling it out for supremacy. Slade and Lealiifano exchanged penalty goals and then in the 50th minute Highlanders centre Shaun Treeby surprised everyone by sneaking over after the referee ruled he was not held in a tackle, which replays confirmed was the correct decision.
The Highlanders momentum was halted soon after when All Black fly half Slade suffered a sickening broken ankle that is likely to rule him out for the remainder of the season. It was another cruel injury to add to his list of unfortunate injuries that has seen him play only 7 games in 2 seasons.
The score was level again twice more as more penalty goals moved the scoreboard along until Brumbies flanker Hooper scored in similar fashion to Treeby to sneak through and score next to the uprights and put the lead back to 7.
It was a margin that would ultimately decide the match as the Brumbies were able to use their superior fitness levels and the lessons from last weeks close defeat to see out the match in front of 12,269 excited fans. Michael Hooper was the man of the match and Jake White said after the game that he believes that Hooper could one day be wearing the Green and Gold of the Wallabies if he can repeat performances like tonight. The Brumbies now sit in 2nd spot on the ladder, although the Reds have the chance to bridge that gap when they play the Bulls overnight.
Brumbies 33 – Tomane 2, Hooper tries; Lealiifano 3 cons, 4 pens def Highlanders 26 – A Smith, Treeby tries; Slade 2 cons, 2 pens, drop goal, Noakes pen goal
