Brumbies thrash Tahs in Super derby
MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies raged to a 47-14 Super Rugby victory over NSW Waratahs in the Canberra derby on Sunday.
Fans came out to GIO Stadium in their numbers (8 167) on Sunday – their biggest home crowd of the season – as governing body SANZAAR announced the indefinite suspension of the competition after the completion of the round.
The seven-try win extends the Brumbies’ conference lead over the chasing Rebels and Reds to 10 points, while the defeat compels what has been a miserable season for the Waratahs, with just one win in six rounds.
It is the second successive week they’ve had a second-half fadeout.
Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa suffered a serious injury at mid-match and the Wallabies prop was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm.
The match played out to be a war of attrition for both teams as the Brumbies lost lock Murray Douglas midway through the first half to concussion and try-scoring winger Solomone Kata to a leg injury.
The Waratahs suffered their own injury troubles with Wallabies back Kurtley Beale forced off shortly after halftime with a hamstring injury after trying to stop a Joe Powell try.
Centre Karmichael Hunt followed him soon after with a calf issue.
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The Waratahs only trailed 21-14 at halftime with young five-eighth Will Harrison and flanker Michael Hooper among their best.
But with two of their attacking weapons sidelined for most of the second half, they didn’t have the resources to peg back the classy Brumbies.
Waratahs skipper Rob Simmons had his team off to the best possible start, stretching out for a 13th-minute try but, each time the visitors made a dent, the Brumbies quickly hit back.
Two first-half tries to Kata helped the home side to a seven-point lead at the break and, when Powell crossed in the 45th minute, they took control.
Reserve wing Tom Wright, who replaced Kata, also crossed twice in the second stanza before fullback Tom Banks touched down right on fulltime to wrap up the big win.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Kata 2, Neville, Powell, Wright 2, Banks
Cons: Lolesio 4, Lonergan, Banks
For Waratahs:
Tries: Simmons, Nawaqanitawase
Cons: Harrison 2
Yellow cards: D Swain (Brumbies, 67), Jack Dempsey (Waratahs, 57)
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Will Miller, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Murray Douglas, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Connal McInerney, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Tom Wright.
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey , 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Rob Simmons (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Pat Tafa, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 James Ramm.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
