The Brumbies have come away from Auckland with a tough 20-13 win in atrocious conditions. The win also sees them maintain their position at the top of the Australian conference with some breathing space over the Reds.
With the disappointment of missing finals action last year at the hands of the Blues, the Brumbies knew they would have to be right on their game to halt a two match losing streak.
The Match
With the rain teeming down, the visitors opened the scoring early from a penalty to new Wallaby Christian Lealiifano after the Brumbies managed to regather the kick off.
Soon after they nearly added to that score with the TMO denying a try to flyhalf Matt Toomua after he was judged to be just front of his own player after a ricocheted grubber kick from the Blues.
The Brumbies forwards had a busy night attacking the Blues line with the pick and go but handling errors in crucial parts of the field denied them further points.
The Brumbies scored the opening try in the 22nd minute after a stroke of luck to scrum half Nic White who managed to toe the ball ahead after the Blues lost possession. White used the conditions and dived on the ball about seven metres from the line and slid over for the five pointer.
The hosts didn’t get many chances to score in the opening half, with their best chance of scoring resulting in being held up over the line. From the resulting scrum, some poor discipline from the Blues allowed the Brumbies to get out of danger.
In fact, the majority of the match was dominated by scrums that took up nearly 20 minutes of game time but with the conditions it was always going to be a struggle.
In the shadows of half time, the Brumbies had one last chance to extend their lead after disrupting a Blues lineout causing Piri Weepu to be tackled over his own line.
From the scrum the Brumbies were awarded a penalty that their captain Ben Mowen thought could have been more than the three points they came away with to see them up 14-0 at the break.
The hosts seeemed to come out with more enthusiasm in the second half and were able to get on the board with a penalty goal. Captain Ali Williams was also having a tough time with referee Lourens van der Merwe as he thought his team should have been awarded a penalty try for knock down by the Brumbies.
With the crowd not having much to cheer about, Rene Ranger gave them reason to get excited as he pulled of a rib rattler on Nic White and then followed that up by scoring a try to get his side back in the game.
With the game entering the final 20 minutes, both sides tried to get on top but scrums were the order of the day with both sides unable to get on top.
Each side added one penalty each to their score with the Brumbies coming out eventual winners 20-13 to keep their title aspirations on track.
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The Game Changer
The Brumbies penalty goal right on half time gave them a 14 point lead, one they would hang onto.
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The G&GR MOTM
Nic White’s kicking game was impressive in the conditions, putting up numerous contestable box kicks. His try came from chasing his own kick and tonight’s display must put him in Wallabies calculations. Still trying to find his ribs after being rearranged by Ranger.
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Wallaby watch
Stephen Moore put on some great runs in a match dominated by the forwards. Threw well in the lineout also in tough conditions.
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The Details
Crowd: 10,811 JAFA’s
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BLUES 13
Tries: Ranger
Conversions: Noakes
Penalties: Noakes, Kerr
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[one_half last=”yes”]BRUMBIES 20
Tries: White
Conversions:
Penalties: Lealiifano 5
Cards & citings
Nil
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