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Brumbies beat Moana Pasifika in Super score-fest

By AAP
Abraham Pole of Moana Pasifika in action during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between ACT Brumbies and Moana Pasifika at GIO Stadium, on March 18, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

A heavy dose of lineout power has carried the Brumbies to a fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific win, seeing off Moana Pasifika in an entertaining, back-and-forth affair in Canberra.

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They were down 14-3 inside 10 minutes and couldn’t shake off Moana until deep in the second half, winning 62-36 thanks to four tries off the back of their set piece.

Flanker Luke Reimer jagged two of them as they lent on their precision, before they opened up late when reserve halfback Ryan Lonergan changed the game off the bench.

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Moana simply wouldn’t give up in the 98-point, five-lead change thriller, grabbing a lead on 53 minutes when Samiuela Moli drove over the line from their own rolling maul.

But the Brumbies put the hammer down, substitute five-eighth Jack Debreczeni skipping over to retake the lead before winger Andy Muirhead’s second try had them ahead 48-36.

And rugby sevens converts Corey Toole and Ben O’Donnell each found a late try as the score blew out, thei r expansive play catching Pasifika napping as they ran out of legs.

It leaves the Brumbies 4-0 heading to their first New Zealand trip of the season, set to tackle the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.

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Lonergan made another argument for Wallabies selection, steering his side to victory in his second-half stint with some key passes creating scoring opportunities.

But they will need to give their game a serious tune-up if they’re to test the NZ sides, looking porous defensively in conceding five tries and giving the Pasifika team a huge sniff of their first win on Australian soil.

They’d spotted Moana the early buffer courtesy of a loose Noah Lolesio pass that flanker Miracle Faiilagi returned 70m for a try, before Alamanda Motuga powered from a set piece to leave the rattled Brumbies 11 points in the hole.

But Tom Wright put Tamati Tua through on 15 minutes before the Brumbies added consecutive tries off the back of their lineout, although the P Pasifika outfit wouldn’t go away and conjured a magical sweeping move that ended with Fine Inisi levelling the scores at 22-22.

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Former Brumby Christian Leali’ifano impressed on his first trip to Canberra as an away player, steering Moana around the park well and slotting 11 points from the kicking tee.

Brumbies and Wallabies centre Len Ikitau missed the contest with a calf niggle, not expected to be risked in his side’s trip to Christchurch.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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