Brumbies hold off resurgent Tahs
The Brumbies moved to the top of the Australian conference with a 28-23 win over a resurgent Waratahs side in Canberra on Saturday.
The hosts outscored the Sydney team by three tries to two, handing them their first defeat of the season, but they were forced to work hard for the victory as the Waratahs staged a late rally.
The Waratahs made an encouraging start to the game, with a couple of chip kicks getting them deep in Brumbies territory early on and Foley knocked over a penalty to give them the lead after just three minutes.
The home side responded when scrumhalf Nic White landed a penalty from 45 metres out after Paddy Ryan had collapsed a maul, and after Foley replied with another penalty white followed up with a try to give the Brumbies the lead for the first time in the match.
A set move saw the Brumbies put pressure on the Waratahs' tryline, and the scrumhalf was able to nip over from close range before converting his own try to make it 10-6.
The home side were put in complete control shortly afterwards when Jessie Mogg chipped, chased, and left Israel Folau behind to score a great individual try, leaving the Waratahs chasing the game.
Both teams had chances to score tries before half-time but had to be content with a penalty each as the Brumbies led 20-9 at the break.
The Waratahs took the game to their hosts at the start of the second half as they looked to work their way back into the contest but they could not capitalise and the Brumbies were soon back on the attack.
A break from flyhalf Matt Toomua put them deep in opposition territory, and after a series of line-outs in the 22 Alexander made a bullocking run before the ball was swung out to Tevita Kuridrani who scored in the corner.
The Brumbies suffered a setback when Toomua was shown a yellow card for not rolling away in the tackle after repeated infringements from his team which gave the Waratahs a glimmer of hope as they tried to launch a comeback.
They came up with the goods straight away as Michael Hooper got over for a try which cut the Brumbies lead to 25-16 after Foley had added the conversion.
The Waratahs had their tails up as they tried to make the most of their extra man, and No.8 Wycliff Palu got over the tryline after a powerful scrum but he was held up.
Soon after Toomua returned to the field the Brumbies were reduced to 14 men once again as Ruan Smith was shown a yellow card this time when he strayed offside.
The Waratahs took advantage right away as Folau made the most of some space to score in the corner, an Foley's touchline conversion set up a tense finish.
The visitors threw everything at the Brumbies in a desperate attempt to snatch a win, but the home side had the final say as White kicked one last penalty to send them to the top of the pile Down Under.
Man of the match: Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White directed the game well and took his opportunities to steer his team to victory.
The scorers:
For the Brumbies:
Tries: White, Mogg, Kuridrani
Cons: White 2
Pens: White 3
For the Waratahs:
Try: Hooper, Folau
Cons: Foley 2
Pens: Foley 3
Yellow card: Matt Toomua (Brumbies, 60 – repeated infringements) Ruan Smith (Brumbies, 73 – repeated infringements)
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (captain), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Leon Power, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Jean-Pierre Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Locky McCaffrey, 21 Andrew Smith, 22 Michael Dowsett, 23 Lionel Cronje.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements – from: 16 Tola Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Rob Horne, 24 Matt Carraro, 25 Jonno Lance.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffman, Graham Cooper
TMO: Peter Marshall
