Brumbies edge Rebels in pre-season blowout in Wagga Wagga

Len Ikitau’s second-half double was enough for the ACT Brumbies to skip clear after the Melbourne Rebels had fired their first shots ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Brumbies led early but needed a second-half surge in a 35-33 win in Wagga Wagga on Saturday.

The Rebels, beaten 24-0 by Fijian Drua in their only other trial game, held sway and led 19-12 early in the second half after stalling the Brumbies’ rolling maul and finding space on the left flank.

But Wallabies centre Ikitau produced the critical plays, twice tumbling out of tackles to score his tries in the Brumbies’ comeback.

His second put them nine points clear before the Rebels scored a consolation try after the siren.

Rugby sevens recruits Corey Toole continued his fine pre-season form with a try for the winners, while fellow sevens product and Tokyo Olympian Joe Pincus made the most of his early minutes with a first-half double.

Pincus was on after Ray Nu’u was helped of f with a right knee injury, while Rebels five-eighth Carter Gordon was also limping when he exited in the 60th minute.

The emerging playmaker was sharp before that, throwing the pass for Pincus’s first try and running at the line with confidence.

Playing fullback, Reece Hodge was also impressive while Jack Debreczeni was smooth in pulling the Brumbies’ strings in the No.10.

Victory for the Brumbies followed a tight win over the Waratahs in their other pre-season game, returning coach Stephen Larkham to enter the season later this month with a perfect record.