The Brumbies defence couldn’t answer all the questions posed by the Blues attack, slipping to a 39-34 loss in a Super 14 rugby thriller at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.
The Blues scored five tries to three as 19 points from the boot of five-eighth Matt Giteau couldn’t prevent the Brumbies suffering their first defeat in four games.
The Brumbies moved up to fourth with a bonus point, but only three points split the five teams immediately below them, all of whom have a game in hand on the Canberra-based franchise.
A four try blitz from the Blues in the third quarter proved decisive, as they marked the 100th Super appearance of captain and hooker Keven Mealamu in style.
Down 16-10 at the break, the Blues outscored the Brumbies 26-6 in 12 minutes early in the second half to carve out a 36-22 lead.
The Brumbies scored the next 12 points, with tries to replacements Huia Edmonds and Patrick Phibbs setting up a grandstand finish.
The visiting team couldn’t manufacture another score after the 76th minute Phibbs five-pointer and Blues five-eighth Stephen Brett secured the points with a 79th minute field goal.
The Brumbies performed well in the set pieces and coach Andy Friend was pleased with the impact made by his bench players, but he lamented some costly errors and poor defence.
“We knew they were going to challenge our defensive line the whole night which they did and unfortunately we weren’t able to sustain the reasonable effort in defence,” Brumbies coach Andy Friend told AAP.
“We knew what was coming, that’s the style of rugby they play … they continued to ask questions of our defensive line and we didn’t have the answers the whole time.”
Friend said the full extent of a shoulder knock suffered by veteran flanker George Smith, who was forced from the field in the second half, probably wouldn’t be known until Sunday.
The Brumbies host the Chiefs next week before having their bye and don’t travel outside Australia again to the final round.
Sparked by centre Rene Ranger, the Blues always looked dangerous when they held possession and spread the ball.
Ranger and fellow centre Benson Stanley, winger Joe Rokocoko and fullback Isaia Toeva all crossed in the match-tilting period at the start of the second half.
The Brumbies held an early 10-3 lead highlighted by a try to prop Salesi Ma’afu.
The Blues levelled the score when Brett converted the first of Rokocoko’s two tries.
Giteau kicked two penalties to give the Brumbies a 16-10 halftime buffer.
Ranger got the Blues within a point with a try inside two minutes of the second half and his bust set up the go-ahead try to Stanley.
Rokocoko caught a cross field kick from Brett and Toeava cut through some more ordinary defence as the Blues piled on two more tries.
Edmonds crashed through for the Brumbies second try just before the hour and Phibbs raised the Brumbies hopes further when he crossed following a great pass from flanker Rocky Elsom.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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March 20th 2010 @ 12:42pm
Cliff (Bishkek) said | March 20th 2010 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
So the Brumbies were in it; yes they were – the first 15 to 20 minutes and at the end only because of Gits kicking.
The Brumbies are a star studded Super 14 team and yet they do not fire. They have a coach who was (or is), I have been told is a very good and well respected.
Now I refer to the comments made by the person with whom I watched the game with last night here in Nias Island, Indonesia. A man who talks soem good sense.
The Brumbies last year finished one of the strongest teams in the Super 14 – playing very good Rugby
Giteau arrives at the Brumbies – Mortlock is there in self and not in body – there seems to be no game plan and is Andy Friend being outvoted by the players? Has “Power Player” resurfaced at the Brumbies. Forget the “team of champions does not make a champion team” – that is an excuse. The Brumbies have several Wallabies and peopel who has captained the Wallabies – so why do they play badly? They did not play well last night.
There has to be more behind the woeful performances.
Giteau – is no No 10 – He cannot control or work a backline?
Giteau makes poor options?
Moore – is absolutely woeful
The backline defensive patterns were non-existent – now osmeoen said the forwards did well – sorry a No 9 slipped past a breakaway, a lock and a No 8 and scored – HOW?
The players of today have forgot how to tackle properly.
No 11, No 13 were woeful – and are not super 14 standard
AAC is not a fullback – his kicks are braindead, his running is not strong enough
AND PLEASE TELL AN OLD No. 5 – Why do AAC and Giteau, when in their own 25, not kick the ball out downfield – going out is far better than attaining maximum distance. Every person I speak too cannot understand when it is allowed or the ball is in your 25 – Why Australian Teams do not kick the ball out when it their own 25 and players run up to stop the quick throw in. As a forward – the preferable solution & a 50/50 chance or 60/40 of retrieval.
Giteau lacks a football brain – but sorry he is no Mark Ella, Lynagh or Paul McLean – he cannot think on his feet.
Rocky – a great heart – BUT – too many mistakes, and also I am wondering if he is interested?
ALSO THE TEAMS BASIC SKILLS ARE WOEFUL – SCHOOLBOYS ARE BETTER. Ball retention, decisions, tackling, passing – BLOODY AWFUL.
One thing – Lawrence is supposed to be a good ref – but he was hood winked by the Blues when we were i ntheir 25 and attacking – penalty after penalty – Where were the Yellow Cards – they should have been TEAM PENALISED.
To me there are more problems at the Brumbies than are on the outside and the question has to be asked – POLITICS OR PLAYER POWER
It nees to be asked because there is more than just poor play. The players are not performing, game plans are not working – whose fault – and with the QUALITY OF PLAYERS – The Brumbies should be higher up the ladder.
Cliff
March 20th 2010 @ 2:15pm
Ora said | March 20th 2010 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
If your going to harrass lawerence you may also want to question the forward passes by Brumbies players he let slide also.
You can not pick and choose which calls you want to highlight because overall he made some I wouldn’t say bad but line calls for both teams. Lawrence is one of the best refs in the competition and I think he let the game flow quite well.
March 20th 2010 @ 6:37pm
johno said | March 20th 2010 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
I concur about your statement re: Lawrence, but it is a sickness amongst many of the Super 14 refs. They give penalty after penalty in the red zone and then they after about the tenth one decide that’s enough and then that offending team all of a sudden don’t give away those penalties again.
This smacks of the dishonesty that some players and even some squads are prepaired t engage in, while other teams try to play to the as fairly as possible.
March 20th 2010 @ 12:56pm
Who Needs Melon said | March 20th 2010 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
I hate to say this – I’m a diehard Brumbies follower – but I think they are looking like a team of old fellas. They are experienced, smart and strong but none of them look very quick. I like Tyrone Smith but even he looked slow out there. Perhaps it was the calibre of the Blues who do have some genuinely quick guys.
Just after half time one of the commentators remarked that they were a bit surprised that Andy Friends half-time message was to rush up a bit more/faster in defense. If he truly told the team to do that – and they seemed to do it at the start of the first half – then it was exactly the wrong thing to say. Smart defense – coming forward in a line – was what was called for. None of the Brumbies had the speed to really surprise any of the Blues attackers so they just left a ragged defensive line which was candy to the baby Blues. They seemed to cotton on after about 2 or 3 tries but by then the horse had bolted.
I guess the good news for Brumbies fans is that they are somehow sitting in 4th spot (albeit some games to play this weekend) despite really not clicking at all yet. I think their scrum and lineout are keeping them alive. I also think Elsom, after a slow start, is starting to find some form or confidence or whatever spark it is he is missing. He’s not been the world beater I think we’d all conjured up in our heads on his return from Europe. Kaino outplayed him last night.
Well done to the Blues.
March 20th 2010 @ 2:52pm
ballboy said | March 20th 2010 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
I thought the Brumbies were going to win this one and said so in a few posts last week. I’m the first to admit they had a shocker in the first 15 minutes of the second half and that’s where they lost it. Defence across the park was appalling. T. Smith was really disappointing. He came up against a red hot Rene Ranger who was unstoppable.
On a positive side, I thought Gits had his best game. On another positive, it was a highly entertaining game of football.
I too heard that Friend to the team to rush up in defence which certainly backfired. Not defending him at all, but the Blues were dropping a lot of ball in the first half which may have prompted him saying this. Bugger for hm that they played mistake free, expansive, exciting ball in hand rugby and piled on three tries.
Anyway – I put myself out there lastweek so happy to cop a bit this week.
And I still live in hope of a finals berth.
March 20th 2010 @ 2:57pm
Peter K said | March 20th 2010 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Gits should be at 12, he just cannot control a team around the park.
From what I have seen Brumbies will not make the 4. They did not shine in beating the 2 bottom teams Force and Lions.
They were terrible in this game, defence was weak and no brains in attack. Blues deserved to win by more.
They use the stupid box kick far too often, and as mentioned do not kick it out when they should.
They really did miss Motlocks defence in the backs.
The 2 main positives was Gits kicking for goal, and the general ball handling skills was quite good with good offloading by forwards, also the backs did not drop that much ball. However backline angles and patterns in attack were weak.
March 21st 2010 @ 1:50pm
matt said | March 21st 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Interesting to see that Alexander, Smith and Elsom are all in the foxsports dream team (overall this season).
Who would have thought the Brumbies would be carried b y their forwards!
March 21st 2010 @ 4:14pm
penguin said | March 21st 2010 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
The Brumbies were terrible. Kicks straight down the Blues’ throats led to at least 2 tries
I am getting increasingly perplexed and exasperated that the coaches don’t seem to see what most observers seem to agree on – Giteau is a 12 not a 10, and AAC is a 13 or 14 but absolutely not a 15.
Giteau does not have the vision or passing skills to get the backline moving, and AAC has no kicking game and in counter-attack – he simply runs until tackled and has no distribution skills.
I have to say that the loss of Gerrard’s kicking and distribution is being very sorely felt.
With Lealiifano out, I would really like to see Toomua at 10 and Giteau at 12. If Mortlock returns I would switch McCabe (who at least seems to be able to kick) to 15 and AAC to 14, or if without Mortlock put AAC at 13 and bring Mafi in at 14.
On past showings though I’m not holding my breath.
March 21st 2010 @ 6:56pm
ballboy said | March 21st 2010 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
I disagree Penguin. I thought Gits was the standout back for the Brumbies last night. T. Smith was woeful, I agree that AAC is kicking way too much. I’d also like to draw people’s attention to the pace of the pass from Valentine. Compare that to Genia or even dare I say Burgess and it is slow, slow. slow. Maybe Phibbs needs a run on start?
March 21st 2010 @ 7:26pm
penguin said | March 21st 2010 @ 7:26pm | Report comment
From what I have seen Toomua has more vision and a better pass than Giteau (more Larkhamesque, let’s say). I agree Giteau didn’t play badly- he seemed to be recovered from his leg strain, but those darting forays would have a better chance from 12 than from 10.
I agree absolutely on Valentine.
March 21st 2010 @ 7:31pm
mudskipper said | March 21st 2010 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
I must say gentlemen i think the loss will do some good… late in the 2nd half they when looking at a loss they should some drive which has been a little stand-off-ish this season… I have a feeling the boys who joined the season late haven’t had the chance to get into the core building team group…
Now heads up for all you rugby nuts the brumbies always leak points when Morty isn’t defending the outside centre channel… I hoping the new Andrew Smith will fill this role in time…