Brumbies go top as Wallaby veteran limps off, Moana upset Blues

SATURDAY WRAP: The Brumbies have shot to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, but it may have come at a cost in their 24-14 defeat of rivals Queensland Reds.

The hosts defied a lack of possession and territory in the first half in Canberra on Saturday, Rob Valetini leading their defence as they forced 12 turnovers.

A fifth straight loss to the Brumbies now has the Reds in danger of slipping out of the top four with two home games remaining.

A lower-leg injury to Brumbies captain and Wallabies warhorse Allan Alaalatoa dampened the mood though, the Test veteran likely sweating on scans, with the British and Irish Lions tour on the horizon.

The Brumbies have a bye next week, then finish their regular season against the Crusaders, who are two points behind and level with the Chiefs in second.

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The Brumbies are turning on the heat 💥#SuperRugbyPacific | #MOAvBLU pic.twitter.com/m50u6atQxf

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 17, 2025

“We were half asleep, the Reds bombed us and we were on the back foot,” fullback and try-scorer Tom Wright said.

“Went in, gave ourselves a good look in the mirror and were able to come out with a little bit of what we wanted to do.”

Les Kiss’s Reds are now just two points ahead of the Hurricanes, who they host next week in Brisbane.

The Reds started clinically, Tate McDermott beating two men at the ruck and setting up Tim Ryan, who picked a pass off his laces to score under the posts.

Alaalatoa had the reply though, his seventh try of the season a typical close-range effort.

Despite entering the Brumbies’ 22 seven times in the half, the Reds left with nothing more.

And they were quickly behind 21-7 when Andy Muirhead and Wright found space in a defensive line exposed by a yellow card for Hunter Paisami’s high shot on Corey Toole.

Kiss’s substitutions had an impact, hooker Josh Nasser scoring from a rolling maul after some go-forward from their fresh forwards.

They had three more chances in open play to find the equaliser but spilt possession each time, and the Brumbies continued to punish every loose Reds pass or poor decision.

A Ryan Lonergan penalty goal pushed the Brumbies out beyond a converted try.

The match finished in bizarre scenes, Wright opting not to find touch and instead dart towards the line.

He was turned over, Kalani Thomas triggering an 80-metre break, before Connor Vest spilt possession with the line in sight.

“We had them right where we wanted them, but we coughed up the ball, and against a team like the Brumbies that’ll hurt you,” McDermott said.

“Two huge home games for us … those games decide where we finish, so really important for us.”

*Moana Pasifika kept their play-off hopes alive with a 27-21 victory over the Blues in Albany.

Pasifika were led brilliantly by their captain Ardie Savea, on a night where Kyren Taumoefolau scored a hat-trick in the side’s victory.

They have now won their third game in a row against a New Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific for the first time in their history.

The result means that the Blues have dropped to seventh in the table with Pasifika rising to sixth.

*The Western Force’s finals hopes are over for another year after their understrength side suffered a 7-38 defeat to Fijian Drua.

The Force struck early in Fiji via outside centre Sio Tomkinson to take a 7-0 lead in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific match played in hot and humid conditions.

But Drua piled on the next 38 points in the five-tries-to-one romp to make it nine consecutive victories at their home fortress of Churchill Park.

See below for Saturday’s scores and scorers!

Fijian Drua 38-7 Western Force

The scorers:

For Drua:
Tries: Baselala, Masi, Canakaivata 2, Ravutaumada
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2, Muntz 3
Pen: Armstrong-Ravula

For Force:
Try: Tomkinson
Con: Harford

Teams:

Drua: 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Philip Baselala, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Leone Nawai, 22 Inia Tabuavou, 23 Selestino Ravutaumada.

Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Reesjan Pasitoa, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Alex Harford, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Ryan Coxon.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 George Poolman.

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

Moana Pasifika 27-21 Blues

The scorers:

For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Taumoefolau 3
Pens: Pellegrini 4

For Blues:
Tries: Tuipulotu, Sotutu, Penalty Try
Cons: Barrett 2

Teams:

Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalamilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi,1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Julian Savea

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a,
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund,17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Cam Christie, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman

Brumbies 24-14 Reds

The scorers:

For Brumbies:
Tries: Alaalatoa, Muirhead, Wright
Cons: R. Lonergan 3
Pen: R Lonergan

For Reds:
Tries: Ryan, Nasser
Cons: McLaughlin-Phillips 2

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tom Hooper, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Hudson Creighton, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 John Bryant, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen,18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Connor Vest, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Dre Pakeho, 23 Heremaia Murray.

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie

Sources: AAP & @Rugbypass