VIDEO: Brumbies gallop past Chiefs
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies upset the odds to record a bonus-point 54-17 win over the Chiefs in Canberra on Saturday.
It was the perfect repost by the Brumbies, who lost to the Rebels in their opening match last week.
For the Chiefs it was their second-successive defeat in a campaign that looks to be stuck in the starting stall.
The Brumbies, minus star flanker David Pocock who was concussed last weekend, ruined All Black Brodie Retallick’s 100th Super Rugby game in a dominant display.
Doubles by Chance Peni and Tevita Kuridrani, along with a flyhalf masterclass by Christian Lealiifano headline the rout.
The home team scored five first-half tries to take control and snap a four-game losing streak against the Chiefs.
“You can’t sugarcoat that one,” admitted Chiefs skipper Retallick.
“The disappointing thing was just little individual errors.”
- Watch the match highlights here ..
The win was built on solid foundations, not only attacking flair.
The Australians’ pack bullied the Kiwis throughout, winning all the key forward battles.
They won several scrum-penalties, their line-out was excellent (something it hasn’t been in recent times) and their driving maul was solid.
The Chiefs started the proceedings with a second-minute penalty kick from Damian McKenzie.
However, the remainder of the first half was dominated by Brumbies – with tries from Tevita Kuridrani (13th minute), Thomas Banks (17th), Chance Peni (23rd), Lachlan McCaffrey (37th) and Folau Fainga’a (40th).
Lealiifano also kicked four conversions, as Brumbies raced to 33 points before the break.
Wing Ataata Moeakiola touched down in the 29th minute to provide some consolation for the Chiefs, but they were trailing by 23 points at the end of the first half.
It left them with a daunting task in the final 40 minutes.
Samisoni Taukei’aho’s try in the 57th minute and a conversion from McKenzie remained the only points for the Chiefs in the second half.
Man of the match: You can look at anyone of the Brumbies’ hard-working forwards. Chance Peni and Tevita Kuridrani scored doubles, while Thomas Banks was handful on attack – with plenty of metres, six defenders beaten and a couple of clean breaks. However, the award goes to veteran Wallaby star Christian Lealiifano, who pulled the strings in a flyhalf masterclass that was part of the Brumbies’ best performance in years.
The scorers:
For the Brumbies:
Tries: Kuridrani 2, Banks, Peni 2, McCaffrey, Fainga’a, Mann-Rea
Cons: Lealiifano 5, Hawera 2
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Moeakiola, Taukei’aho
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pen: McKenzie
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TEAMS
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Chance Peni, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Christian Lealiifano (captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Peter Samu, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Tom Wright.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Ataata Moeakiola, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick (captain), 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Orbyn Leger, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (21.45 NZ time; 08.45 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
