Mortlock leads Brumbies to crucial win over Blues
By Karlis Salna, 10 May 2009 Karlis Salna is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Blues, Brumbies, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
Stirling Mortlock has led the Brumbies to a crucial win over the Blues in Canberra, scoring a try and kicking seven points to become the all-time highest Super rugby point scorer.
The Brumbies overcame a lacklustre start to score five second-half tries and earn a bonus point, keeping their Super 14 semi-finals hopes alive with a 37-15 victory.
Both sides went into the match needing a win to have any chance of making the finals and it was the Blues who made the most of their opportunities in the first half.
The Blues took an early three point lead after No.10 Jimmy Gopperth slotted a penalty goal in the second minute before Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua landed a drop goal to level the scores 15 minutes later.
The Brumbies were often beaten at the breakdown and lacked any real penetration in attack, while the Blues tried to play a more expansive game and earned a 10-6 lead at the break.
However, it was a different Brumbies side in the second half with Mortlock leading the charge.
The Wallabies captain crashed over four minutes into the second half to kick-start the revival, before converting his own try and eclipsing former Crusaders five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens’ Super points scoring record in the process.
The Brumbies secured a vital bonus point with another three tries in the next 15 minutes, taking them out to a 32-10 lead and putting the game out of the Blues’ reach.
Mortlock finished the match with 12 points to take his all-time points scoring record to 994 – four ahead of Mehrtens – before he was taken off after a crunching tackle by Blues prop Tony Woodcock.
The Blues scored another try in the 62nd minute to get back to 32-15 but the match was all but over and the Brumbies went further ahead with a fifth try to Sitaleki Timani five minutes from fulltime.
Mortlock said the points record was pleasing for him personally, but it was the second-half team performance that was most satisfying.
“We were all aware we were a little bit off physically (in the first half), in particular at the breakdown,” he said.
“The physicality the forward pack showed in the second half was outstanding.”
He said he wasn’t sure at the time whether the try he scored secured the points record.
“So I made sure I got the kick, it was good that it got a nice bounce off the posts.
“It’s pleasing, but I was asked about it earlier in the week and I said that I’d take the win first and foremost and it was excellent that we grabbed the bonus point and got a good win.”
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The Crowd Says (3) | Page 1 of Comments
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Matt said | May 10th 2009 @ 6:41am | Report comment
“Mortlock finished the match with 12 points to take his all-time points scoring record to 994 – four ahead of Mehrtens – before he was taken off after a crunching tackle by Blues prop Tony Woodcock.”
It was a crunching tackle by Mortlock, not Woodcock, who will be sore for a while. Looks like Morty had something to prove out there last night……..now where are our Brumby haters out there who said they would fold in the second half of the season??
Who Needs Melon said | May 10th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
It was a HELL of a tackle. I was sure he must have cracked some ribs but old Tony has got a bit of grisle to him. A moral victory to Woodcock with him staying on the field and Morty coming off.
Vintage Mortlock performance though. I think it’s this sort of talismanic stuff that will see him retaining the Wallaby captaincy through to the next World Cup… and then retring on the ultimate high after one, final glorious victory.
Sluggy said | May 11th 2009 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
Unless the selectors find someone better in the meantime. He’s still the best this year but Ioane and Horne are hot on his heels.