Match Highlights: Hooper's poachers try not enough as Brumbies edge Waratahs
The Brumbies have claimed Super Rugby bragging rights over arch-rivals the NSW Waratahs, hanging on for a thrilling 19-13 upset victory at GIO Stadium.
Entering the Australian conference derby on Friday night after two straight defeats, the ACT franchise were inspired thanks to a double from hooker Folau Fainga’a.
There were some anxious moments for the Brumbies late in the match as the Waratahs did most of the attacking in the last 20 minutes, but the home side did enough in front of 12,112 fans.
The Brumbies’ second win of the season came in spite of a disastrous start where the Waratahs opened the scoring in bizarre circumstances after five minutes.
Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley slammed a straight-forward penalty attempt straight into the post, before captain Michael Hooper pounced on a loose ball for the first try of the match.
But rather than go into their shells following some lacklustre defence, the Brumbies responded by dominating the res t of the first half.
Fainga’a strengthened his Wallabies credentials by crossing the line twice to become the first Brumby since Andrew Walker in 2004 to score a try in five consecutive games.
The Waratahs’ cause wasn’t helped when prop Sekope Kepu was sent to the sin-bin just before the break for a high shot on Brumbies No.8 Lachlan McCaffrey
Waratahs winger Alex Newsome cut the Brumbies 12-5 halftime lead to only two points when he crossed early in the second half.
But the Brumbies received a penalty try a few minutes later, with the Waratahs having another player go to the sin-bin when Harry Johnson-Holmes was yellow carded.
The Brumbies’ horror luck with injuries continued as star prop Scott Sio (arm) and flanker Rob Valetini (knee) failed to finish the game.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said Sio coming off was more precautionary while Valetini will undergo scans.
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The victory was even more impressive considering the Brumbies were without star Wallabies David Pocock and Allan Alaalatoa.
McKellar said the result was built on a determined effort from the Brumbies’ defence.
“It probably wasn’t pretty at times but I think we just stuck at it,” he told reporters.
“We’ve spoken a lot about dealing with pressure and momentum swings and I thought we were outstanding there tonight.”
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson felt his side could respond well heading into a difficult assignment against the Crusaders next week.
“The Brumbies deserved to win the game, they really capitalised on the pressure they were able to exert,” Gibson said.
“There’s areas in our game that we know if we can fix up we can be very competitive.”
AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to comments