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Brumbies edge Chiefs in thriller

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:45

Playmaker: The Brumbies' star back Matt Giteau

Flyhalf Matt Toomua scored with two minutes left on the clock to secure the Brumbies a 30-23 Super 14 win over the Chiefs in Canberra on Friday, a game of much excitement and plenty of drama.

The match-winning score came from a moment of carelessness by an otherwise very competitive Chiefs team - who left a ball lying unprotected behind a ruck, Patrick Phibbs picking it up and off-loading to Toomua for the decisive score.

The drama came in the form of Wallaby Julian Huxley's return to Super Rugby after a two-year absence - following surgery to remove a brain tumour. His return came much earlier than he would have expected, with a 13th-minute injury resulting in Huxley playing almost the entire game.

This was a nailbiter of a match, with the lead changing hands a few times and the result in doubt right up until the final whistle.

With time running out it seemed headed for a draw, but the Brumbies scored when it counted and just about deserved their win.

Stephen Donald put the Chiefs 3-0 up in the third minute when Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore was penalised at a ruck and the Chiefs flyhalf kicked a 45-metre penalty goal.

The Chiefs attacked strongly and should have scored in the sixth minute but flank Liam Messam, under no great pressure, somehow managed to lose the ball forward over the goal-line - a big let-off for the Brumbies.

It was a costly unforced error because the Brumbies hit back with a try three minutes later when Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlcok and Adam Ashley-Cooper timed their passes to perfection to set up right wing Pat McCabe for an elusive run into the Chiefs 22. McCabe fed Josh Valentine who scored under the posts, Giteau converted and the Brumbies were up 7-3.

In the 13th minute Huxley came on as a replacement for Francis Fainifo, to huge applause from his home crowd in recognition of his miraculous comeback from serious illness.

The home team scored again in the 15th minute when from a line-out inside the Chiefs 22, Phibbs, on at scrumhalf for Valentine, broke and fed 18-year-old flank Michael Hooper who scored his first Super 14 try on his debut. Giteau goaled and the Brumbies were in a 14-3 lead.

The Chiefs pulled back three points in the 18th minute when Moore was again penalised and Donald goaled from in front of the posts (14-6).

Five minutes later Brumbies loosehead prop Ben Alexander was penalised for incorrect binding at a scrum in front of his posts and Donald reduced the lead to 14-9.

The Chiefs took the lead when from a line-out Donald split the defence wide open, cutting through on the inside of Matt Toomua and Giteau, and scrumhalf Brendon Leonard finished well, beating defenders through skill and strength to score a fine try. Donald converted and the Chiefs led 16-14 after 31 minutes.

In the 39th minute the Chiefs were given a team warning for repeated infringements at breakdown and Giteau restored the Brumbies lead by goaling the straight-forward penalty (17-16).

The first half had been even, with possession close to 50 per cent for each team, but the Chiefs had not helped themselves by conceding six penalties to the three conceded by the Brumbies, and the visitors had also lost two of their five line-outs.

The Chiefs regained the lead soon after kick-off when Mortlock kicked the ball straight into Sitiveni Sivivatu, and Jackson Willison and Tanerau Latimer took advantage to set up Richard Kahui for a try - excellent counter-attack from Mortlock's error.

Donald converted and the visitors led 23-17.

A mindless off-side by Latimer a minute later allowed Giteau to kick a penalty-goal and the lead had been reduced to 23-20.

The Brumbies attacked in waves and rookie loose-forward Hooper handled three times in one series of phases as the home team achieved good continuity, but the Chiefs defence held.

Each team attacked resolutely in turn early in the half but defence was tight and neither team was able to penetrate.

Then for a long spell the Brumbies enjoyed a territorial advantage and exerted sustained pressure inside the Chiefs 22, but they could not crack the Chiefs defence.

Giteau had a chance to kick a penalty-goal to tie the score but the Brumbies opted for a five- metre scrum instead of a close-range penalty shot at posts, were unable to score and the opportunity was lost.

The home team continued to attack deep inside the Chiefs half, and with eight minutes to play, the Chiefs went offside in front of their posts and Giteau drew the scores level at 23-23.

The winning try came in the 78th minute when, again struggling with a set piece, the Chiefs scrum reeled backwards and they were unable to clear. A disorganised Chiefs defensive ruck allowed Phibbs to pick up the unprotected ball and feed Toomua who scored his first Super 14 try.

Giteau goaled and the Brumbies led 30-23 going into the last minute.

The Chiefs attacked from the kick-off in a desperate effort to salvage a draw but a knock on after the hooter ended the game and the home team had secured a tight but deserved victory - deserved because of the pressure they exerted on the Chiefs defence in the second half.

The Chiefs had conceded 11 penalties while the Brumbies were penalised only five times, and the visitors were able to win only nine of their 14 line-outs. The Chiefs also struggled in a few crucial scrums.

The Chiefs may feel that they deserved a draw at least on the basis of their superb defence for much of the game but they didn't do enough on attack in the second half and in the end the Brumbies scored three tries to two.

Man of the Match: For the Chiefs flanks Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam were effective, while for the Brumbies Rocky Elsom was his usual potent self, Matt Giteau was impressive in the greater space at inside centre and Patrick Phibbs was sharp and incisive at scrumhalf. But...it could have been out of a Hollywood movie script. Julian Huxley came onto the field in the 13th minute for a remarkable Super 14 comeback less than two years after brain surgery to remove a tumour, and he didn't put a foot wrong on attack or defence. His skills and timing were wonderful - and he is our Man of the Match. Would it be premature to say that he looks set for a return to the Wallaby jersey later this year?

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Valentine, Hooper, Toomua
Cons: Giteau 3
Pens: Giteau 3

For the Chiefs:
Tries: Leonard, Kahui
Cons: Donald 2
Pens: Donald 3

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Ben Hand, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Colby Faingaa, 19 Mark Chisholm, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Julian Huxley.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Nathan White, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Paul Marks (Australia), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Matthew Goddard (Australia)

By Len Kaplan

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