VIDEO: Brumbies win Canberra snorefest
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies hung on for a hard-earned 19-13 win over the Waratahs in Canberra on Friday.
The Brumbies scored two tries, including a penalty try, in an error-filled encounter – while the Waratahs replied with two tries of their own.
However, a lack of discipline cost the visitors from Sydney, as they had two players sin-binned in the second half.
Entering the Australian conference derby on Friday, after two straight defeats, the ACT franchise were inspired thanks to a double from hooker Folau Fainga’a.
There were some anxious moments for the Brumbies late in the match as the Waratahs did most of the attacking in the last 20 minutes, but the home side did enough in front of 12,112 fans.
The Brumbies’ second win of the season came in spite of a disastrous start where the Waratahs opened the scoring in bizarre circumstances after five minutes.
Waratahs flyhalf Bernard Foley slammed a straight-forward penalty attempt straight into the post, before captain Michael Hooper pounced on a loose ball for the first try of the match.
But rather than go into their shells following some lacklustre defence, the Brumbies responded by dominating the rest of the first half.
Fainga’a strengthened his Wallabies credentials by crossing the line twice to become the first Brumby since Andrew Walker in 2004 to score a try in five consecutive games.
The Waratahs’ cause wasn’t helped when prop Sekope Kepu was sent to the sin-bin just before half-time for a high shot on Brumbies No.8 Lachlan McCaffrey
Waratahs wing Alex Newsome cut the Brumbies 12-5 half-time lead to only two points when he crossed early in the second half.
But the Brumbies received a penalty try a few minutes later, with the Waratahs having another player go to the sin-bin when Harry Johnson-Holmes was sent off.
The Brumbies’ horror luck with injuries continued as star prop Scott Sio (arm) and flank Rob Valetini failing to finish the game.
The scorers:
For the Brumbies:
Tries: Fainga’a 2, Penalty try
Cons: Lealiifano, penalty try does not require a conversion
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Hooper, Newsome
Pen: Foley
Yellow cards: Sekope Kepu (Waratahs, 34 – foul play, swinging arm in the ruck), Harry Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs, 53 – cynical foul, collapsing maul near tryline)
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Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valentini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 James Slipper, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Jordan Jackson-hope, 23 Mack Hansen.
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Lachlan Swinton, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Mack Mason, 23 Cameron Clark.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Amy Perrett (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
