Brumbies edge Rebel in a thriller
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Loading...The Aquis Brumbies have momentarily jumped four points clear atop the Australian Super Rugby conference following a hard-fought 30-22 win over the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park this evening.
Brumbies replacements almost stole the show with impressive performances in the second half, led by Ruan Smith and 20-year old debutant Jordan Jackson-Hope, who set up the match-sealing try with his first touch in Super Rugby.
Both teams were up for it from the start, but endless penalties turned this match into a stop-start encounter. That, however, didn’t prevent the teams from scoring a combined eight tries as the momentum swung back and forth, and back again.
In the opening minutes the Rebels withstood a 24-phase Brumbies attack on their tryline, before transgressing at the breakdown, which resulted in a three-pointer from co-captain Christian Leafiifano. His successful penalty attempt took the flyhalf to 101 points in 2016.
The hosts came storming back when flyhalf Jack Debreczeni flummoxed the Brumbies defence with two dummy passes to set up wing Cam Crawford for the first try of the match.
The lead then exchanged hands twice as first flank David Pocock crossed from the back of a driving maul for the Brumbies before Debreczeni slotted a penalty to put the Rebels back in the driving seat.
The Brumbies were then handed a significant blow on the half-hour mark when lock Sam Carter was forced from the field after he was shoved from behind and into the path of a flying Lealiifano. He was taken from the field for a concussion test and would not return, replaced by Blake Enever.
Carter’s second-row partner Rory Arnold handed the Brumbies lead back minutes later by stretching out from close range for his first try of the season. Lealiifano scored the Brumbies third try a minute later, but failed to convert on both occasions.
There was an opportunity for the Rebels to narrow the deficit on the stroke of half-time, but captain Nic Stirzaker turned down the points on offer, taking a quick tap instead and it proved costly as they knocked on three metres out. The score at the break was 20-10 to the Brumbies.
The Rebels started the second half brightly, effecting a turnover in the Brumbies’ half from the restart.
They stretched the defence from side to side, before centre Reece Hodge ran onto a skip pass to score.
With both teams knowing that top spot in the Australian conference was on offer, Brumbies Head Coach Stephen Larkham turned to his reserves for a boost and got exactly what he was after.
Ruan Smith, who came on for Ben Alexander had one of the finest 40 minutes of his career. After making a 25 metre bust on an early touch, Smith was in the thick of it minutes later, setting up Scott Fardy for a crucial try in the corner with a perfect pass.
The Rebels continued to pressure the visitors. Their persistence paid off in the 52nd minute when wing Sefa Naivalu scored an unconverted try to make it 25-22 following a smart lineout set play.
Debreczeni missed a chance to draw level, with yet another unsuccessful penalty.
In the 69th minute Smith looked to have put fellow prop Allan Alaalatoa in for the try of the night, however the TMO ruled Fardy had dropped the ball phases earlier. From the insuing scrum the Brumbies overpowered the Rebels pack and earned a penalty.
After finding touch, the Brumbies went centre field, before finding space out wide. Rookie Jordan Jackson-Hope, with his first touch in Super Rugby, fired a cut out pass onto the chest of Nigel Ah Wong who dived over the match sealing try.
The final score was 30-22 and put the Brumbies four points ahead of the NSW Waratahs on top of the Australian Conference heading into a bye week. The Waratahs take on the Bulls tomorrow night.
The Brumbies next match will be at GIO Stadium against competition newcomers the Sunwolves (Japan) on Saturday, 28 May.
Brumbies 30 (Tries: David Pocock, Rory Arnold, Christian Leali’ifano, Scott Fardy, Nigel Ah Wong; Conversion: Leali’ifano. Penalty: Leali’ifano) bt Rebels 22 (Tries: Cam Crawford, Reece Hodge, Sefa Naivalu. Conversions: Jack Debreczeni (2). Penalty: Debreczeni)
Rebels – 15 Mike Harris, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Cam Crawford, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Colby Fainga’a, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Subs: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Jordy Reid, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Tom English, 23 Kotaro Matsushima.
Brumbies – 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Leali’ifano (c), 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Blake Enever, 21 Jordan Smiler, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Lausii Taliauli
Courtesy of the Brumbies
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