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Brumbies stay in the hunt

Sat, 08 May 2010 13:37

Man of the moment: Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua

The Brumbies kept alive their play-off hopes when they scored a comprehensive 31-3 win over a very subdued Highlanders team in Canberra on Saturday.

The four-tries-to-nil victory had a significant impact on the standings, following the Waratahs' 46-19 triumph over the Chiefs earlier in the day - which leaves New Zealand with no team in the top four and just one week of league action to go.

The Brumbies joined their compatriots, the 'Tahs' in the top four - behind the table-topping Bulls (on 47 points) and the Stormers (38 points and a game in hand). The 'Tahs also have 38 points, but a far inferior points differential, while the Brumbies are on 37 points.

It was not all smooth sailing for the Brumbies, who notched three tries in the opening 48 minutes, but had to wait till the 79th minute to get the bonus-point try - scored by flyhalf Matt Toomua - that put them into the top four ahead of the Hurricanes.

Toomua's try - which followed others by Rocky Elsom, Salesi Ma'afu and Josh Valentine - ensures that the Brumbies' encounter with the Crusaders in Christchurch next Friday is effectively a quarterfinal showdown.

Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles said the fourth try was "a relief more than a delight".

The victory also gave veterans George Smith and Stirling Mortlock a perfect Canberra farewell.

Smith lasted 74 minutes and was superb in his Canberra farewell, while Mortlock, whose back injury denied him the chance to play one last time in front of his home crowd, did a lap of honour before the game.

The Brumbies were dominant throughout the game, with the only question being whether they would be good enough to claim the bonus point.

Elsom opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he took the ball at the back of a line-out and twisted and turned his way through several opponents to dive over.

The lead swelled to 14 points when Salesi Ma'afu barged over in the 16th minute and Matt Giteau converted, but the Highlanders slowly worked their way back into the contest as they evened up the possession count.

But it failed to translate into points, with Adam Ashley-Cooper pulling off a desperate, last-gasp tackle to deny Highlanders lock Josh Bekhuis what appeared destined to be a certain try in the 23rd minute.

The Highlanders finally got some points on the board when Israel Dagg nailed a penalty after the half-time siren.

But the Brumbies notched their third try of the game after the break, when Toomua sliced through the visitors' defence to pave the way for Josh Valentine to cross.

The Highlanders were reduced to 14 men when Dagg was sin-binned for a cynical knock-down and the Brumbies came close to notching their fourth, only for prop Ben Alexander to be penalised for playing the ball on the ground as he delayed his stretch to the line far too long.

But while they were denied on that occasion, perseverance paid off after a rolling maul stretched the Highlanders' defence and Toomua was able to take full advantage - slicing through the erratic Highlanders defence.

Man of the Match: Hooker Jason Rutledge and All Black loose forward Adam Thomson were the best of the Highlanders in display, while Matt Giteau always looked dangerous and George Smit was simply sublime for the Brumbies. However, our award goes to Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua - not just was his allround game of the highest order, but he produced crucial score at the death that may well define the Brumbies' season.

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Elsom, Ma'afu, Valentine, Toomua
Cons: Giteau 4
Pen: Giteau

For the Highlanders:
Pen: Dagg

Yellow card: Israel Dagg (Highlanders, 49th min - professional foul)

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Brackin Karauria-Henry, 22 Ed Stubbs/Stirling Mortlock.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 James Paterson, 13 Ben Smith, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Peter Mirrielees, 17 Keith Cameron, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Jayden Hayward.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)

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