VIDEO: Kuridrani hat-trick sinks Bulls
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies outmuscled and outthought the Bulls to record a bonus-point 22-10 win in Canberra on Friday.
The win extends the Brumbies lead at the top of the Australian conference and moves them into second on the overall ladder.
It also maintained the Brumbies’ 12-year winning streak over the Bulls Down Under.
Destroyer in chief was Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani, who scored three of his team’s four tries.
Fellow centre Irae Simone scored the other try.
The Bulls, who had their share of opportunities, replied with a solitary try by flank Hanro Liebenberg.
Kuridrani is certainly making the Wallabies No.13 jersey his own ahead the World Cup in Japan later this year, while Brumbies skipper Christian Lealiifano was also superb.
“The boys adapted well and trusted our game and plan and I’m glad because it paid off,” Lealiifano said.
“It’s positive [to be winning] at this time of year but it’s time to continue that momentum and put in the work and things will pay off.”
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said the emphasis against the Bulls was discipline but his men were penalised inside 30 seconds and the visitors went ahead 3-0.
The Brumbies crossed for the first try when fullback Tom Banks drew two defenders and off-loaded to Kuridrani who scored in the corner after five minutes.
Three collapsed mauls led to Brumbies flanker Tom Cusack being sin-binned on 14 minutes and a Bulls try came next when they pushed over at scrum time.
The Brumbies turned down four kickable penalties in the first half but their second try didn’t arrive until just before the break.
The Bulls nullified the Brumbies’ usually reliable maul so they called on Kuridrani to break the line and the star outside centre delivered to make it 12-10 at half-time.
The Brumbies have scored some sensational set-piece tries this season and added another from the scrum on 44 minutes.
Lealiifano ran at the line and found Henry Speight with an inside ball who then sent it back outside for Irae Simone to score his first Super Rugby try.
The Brumbies had the wind in their sails and went back on the attack with Kuridrani scoring his third from an overlap just before the hour mark.
The scores remained unchanged for the final 20 minutes as the Brumbies made it six successive wins at home.
Man of the match: Schalk Brits, Rudolph Snyman, Paul Schoeman and Duane Vermeulen were all very energetic and productive for the Bulls. Christian Lealiifano was the creative genius that unlocked the Bulls’ defence and the general that directed play brilliantly. Our award goes to Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani, with his powerful bursts earning him three tries – the decisive factor in the match.
The scorers:
For the Brumbies:
Tries: Kuridrani 3, Simone
Cons: Lealiifano
For the Bulls:
Try: Liebenberg
Con: Libbock
Pen: Libbock
Yellow card: Thomas Cusack (Brumbies, 15 – repeated infringements, collapsing the maul)
RECAP: Brumbies v Bulls
Did you miss any of the action? Recap all the drama here!
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold , 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Connal Mcinerney, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Rob Valetini, 22 Ryan Lonergan, 23 Tom Wright
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehan Herbst, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, John Jackson, Divan Rossouw.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
