Brumbies put down pre-season marker

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies put down a pre-season marked when they beat the Rebels 52-38 in Canberra on Saturday.

Both teams used the opportunity to trial a wide base of players from their training squad, with the Rebels using over thirty players across the three thirty minute periods of the match.

PERIOD ONE

In 37°C heat, the Rebels made their intentions known early with a quick line speed that frustrated the Brumbies.

Abrasive defence from newly re-signed Rebel Matt Philip set the tone for some solid collisions from both sides.

A willingness to shift the ball when possible by the Brumbies became apparent early. From the second phase of a kick return, Lausii Taliauli unleashed a lean looking Tevita Kuridrani down the left edge for the Wallaby centre to open the scoring.

Providing incisive runs from the base of the ruck, Joe Powell doubled the lead for the home team with a 40 metre linebreak that was finished by Kuridrani moments later.

The Rebels first try would come from a Brumbies error, when a wild pass intended for Kuridrani was intercepted by Sione Tui for a try against the run of play.

With their confidence growing, the Rebels drew level with the Brumbies though giant prop Pone Fa’amausili try. Awarded a long arm penalty from 10 metres out, livewire scrumhalf Michael Ruru shunned another attempt at a rolling maul in exchange for a quick tap. Three phases later, the scrumhalf found Fa’amausili who proved unstoppable from five metres out.

PERIOD TWO

A classic Brumbies line-out play got the scoreboard ticking over in the second period.

A throw to six in the line-out was immediately dispatched to the backline where a quick inside ball from flyhalf Hawera found blind wing Toni Pulu on the inside. As Pulu raced into the backfield he found an unmarked Kuridrani running up the centre of the field for his third try of the game.

At the 10-minute mark, wholesale replacements were made by both coaches.

Slotting into flyhalf, Stu Dunbar made an immediate impact; his second linebreak dragging the Rebels into the Brumbies quarter. After numerous phases pressuring the line, a deft Dunbar cross field kick found the unmarked Navarro Haisila on the right touchline for a try.

The Brumbies responded immediately when a breakdown penalty from the restart gave the home team valuable field position. Moments later, a second man play to Andy Muirhead allowed the speedster to get on the outside shoulder of his defender and offload to teammate Len Ikitau for a five metre stroll to the line.

When a wayward exit from the Brumbies was pounced on by the Rebels, the Rebels were afforded just their second opportunity of the period. Receiving the ball at first receiver, Sam Talakai bounced off three defenders to crash over and arrest the lead for the Melburnians.

Brumbies back rower Rob Valetini had the crowd on their feet shortly after, with an audacious run from his own try line. After beating three defenders, Valetini linked with Chance Peni for a length of the field reply.

With the period seemingly over, the Rebels made the most of repeated Brumbies infringements to camp inside the Brumbies quarter and stage one last attack. A pick and go from Robbie Abel saw the lead swing once again in favour of the Rebels, 33-31.

PERIOD THREE

Manly Sea Eagles recruit Tom Wright began the last period with an eye catching in-and-away move from a Brumbies halfway scrum. After putting his centre away, he backed up in support for his first try in Brumbies colours.

A second break by Wright set the stage for the Brumbies fightback, with a cross field kick finding Len Ikitau. Ikitau made no mistake with the catch and crossed the chalk for his second score of the game.

With the lead pushed beyond two tries, the Brumbies tails were up as they got more creative with their offloading. Against some unstructured defence, Muirhead crossed from five meters out after scrappy ball from the base of the ruck.

The Melburnians would have the final say though. An ambitious Rebels penalty kick for touch was rewarded with a five-meter line-out and Matthew Gibbon finished an impressive shift with a pick and go try in the final play of the match.

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan Mccaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements – from: Jahrome Brown, Sam Carter, Murray Douglas, Vunipola Fifita, Connal Mcinerney, Lachlan Osborne, Tom Ross, Angus Wagner, Mack Hansen, Len Ikitau, Bayley Kuenzle, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Matt Lucas, Andy Muirhead, Chance Peni, Tom Wright.

Rebels squad: Cameron Betham, Rhys Brodie, Quade Cooper, Angus Cottrell, Mees Erasmus, Pone Fa’amausili, Matthew Gibbon, Harrison Goddard, Esei Ha’angana, Richard Hardwick, Jack Hayson, Trevor Hosea, Luke Jones, Archie King, Michael Koko, Feta Luamanu, Justin Masters, William Meakes, Jon Mokofisi, Matthew Philip, Hugh Roach, Michael Ruru, Sam Talakai, Tasi Tautalatasi, Sione Tui, Semisi Tupou, Kemu Valentini, Beauden Waaka.

Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Brodie Ingram

Source: @MelbourneRebels