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Brumbies tame the Cheetahs

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:46

Artistry on display: Brumbies inside centre Matt Giteau

The Brumbies scored a bonus-point 61-15 win over the Cheetahs in Super 14 action from Canberra on Saturday and will feel it was mission accomplished.

And indeed they were dominant from start to finish, eventually overwhelming the Cheetahs by nine tries to two.

But they will acknowledge that against quality opposition the unforced errors they made would cost them dearly.

Their skills improved after half-time but they will be disappointed at the ball they coughed up and for much of the game both sides were guilty of sloppy play. In the first half especially, it was a scrappy game with the home team disrupted by the Cheetahs spoiling approach.

There was enough constructive play though, to leave the Brumbies happy if not excited about their performance. They won set-piece ball, their recycling was quick at times, they succeeded in bits and pieces at putting together impressive continuity and some of their support play was excellent.

Their composure was appreciably better in the second half than the first, but they will appreciate that they will have to raise their skills level - and play more consistently for the full 80 minutes - if they are to beat the Hurricanes and Waratahs in the next two weeks.

For the Cheetahs, it was another disappointing performance. They spent much of the first half just defending and though they did show glimpses of attacking flair, they will need to look at their defensive organisation and commitment if they are to be competitive.

Conceding nine tries against a team clearly not at their attacking best was disappointing indeed, and some serious soul-searching would be in order.

The Cheetahs took a 3-0 lead in the fifth minute when the Brumbies were penalised for collapsing a scrum and Naas Olivier goaled the penalty.

But it was the home team who were enjoying territory and possession and attacking momentum and in consultation with TMO George Ayoub, referee Bryce Lawrence awarded Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles a try after a period of strong pressure close to the Cheetahs goal-line. Giteau converted to give the Brumbies a 7-3 lead after 10 minutes.

Barend Pieterse was sin-binned for what the referee called a 'cynical' infringement after the ref had allowed advantage repeatedly for Cheetahs players straying off-side.

Much of the game was being played inside the Cheetahs 22, and the Brumbies were enjoying a surfeit of possession, but the Cheetahs were spoiling effectively and the Brumbies butchered one opportunity to score after another, with their handling letting them down.

The half was eventually rescued from the doldrums - briefly at least - by sharp play from Brumbies scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs, who gathered a deliberate tap-down by his Cheetahs opposite number Tewis de Bruyn, and then beat De Bruyn to slip through for a try from a five-metre scrum. Giteau converted and the home team led 14-3 after 29 minutes.

Outside centre Tyrone Smith added some life to the game when from another scrum inside the Cheetahs 22, he did a switch with inside centre Giteau and cut inside a group of defenders to score a neatly executed try which Giteau converted. With two minutes left in the half the Brumbies led 21-3.

The start of the second half provided better skills than we had seen in the entire first half, with an excellent try scored by Rocky Elsom three minutes into the half after a break by Giteau and good support from Phibbs, Michael Hooper and Ben Hand. Giteau goaled and the Brumbies led 28-3.

Sarel Pretorius replaced De Bruyn for the Cheetahs and with the visitors at last able to string a couple of phases together, the scrumhalf sub burst through to score a try almost immediately after arrival on the field. Olivier fluffed the conversion but the visitors had at least made their presence felt on the scoreboard (28-8 after 46 minutes).

But three minutes later the Cheetahs defence cracked again as Julian Huxley fed Adam Ashley-Cooper and when the left wing was tackled just short of the goal-line, Ben Alexander forced his way over. Giteau converted and the home team led 35-8.

In the 56th minute, Ashley-Cooper scored his first try of the season, with support all around him and defenders scarce. Giteau goaled again (42-8).

With the game in the bag, the Brumbies brought on a host of replacements and in the 62nd minute Cheetahs skipper Adriaan Strauss took advantage of the Brumbies wandering focus to score a try which Riaan Viljoen converted (42-15).

In the 72nd minute Matt Toomua scored the Brumbies seventh try when he beat a series of less than committed defenders. With Giteau resting on the subs' bench, Huxley goaled the conversion (49-15).

With three minutes to play, Kabamba Floors was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle and from the line-out close to the Cheetahs tryline, Alexander scored his second try. Huxley could not convert (54-15).

From the restart, replacement Alfie Mafi scored, Huxley converted and the Brumbies had won 61-15.

And so ended a fairly satisfactory, if at times hesitant outing for the Brumbies, and another unhappy game for the Cheetahs. The former remain very much in the running for a semifinal spot, while unless there is a marked improvement, the latter look set to battle the Lions for 13th and 14th places on the log.

Man of the Match: In a game which was never going to be a tight contest, there was no-one who stood out like a beacon for excellence, but youngsters Matt Toomua and Michael Hooper showed enough to suggest they have very bright futures and Matt Giteau displayed touches of wonderful skill. But our Man of the Match must be Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles, who as so often before, excelled when the game opened up and he was able to display his attacking skills and excellent support play.

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Hoiles, Phibbs, Smith, Elsom, Alexander 2, Ashley-Cooper, Toomua, Mafi
Cons: Giteau 6, Huxley 2

For the Cheetahs:
Try: Pretorius, Strauss
Con: Viljoen
Pen: Olivier

Yellow cards: Barend Pieterse (Cheetahs, 17th minute - professional foul); Kabamba Floors (Cheetahs, 77th minute - dangerous tackle).

The teams:

Brumbies: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 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 Mark Chisholm, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 James Stannard, 21 Ed Stubbs, 22 Alfi Mafi.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Wilmaure Louw, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Barend Pieterse, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Walti Vermeulen, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 Robert Ebersohn.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh, Angus Gardiner
TMO: George Ayoub

By Len Kaplan

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