Julian Huxley has told Brumbies coach Andy Friend he can only get better after capping a remarkable return to rugby with a rock solid performance in his side’s Super 14 win over the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium.
Huxley played his first Super match since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 and let no-one down as the Brumbies registered a late 30-23 win when playmaker Matt Toomua scored under the posts in the dying minutes.
The Brumbies had been forced to reshuffle their backline early in the first half after losing winger Francis Fainifo – who’s expected to be out for four to six weeks with a suspected broken leg – and halfback Josh Valentine who went off with a strained hamstring.
Enter Huxley after just 11 minutes.
The crowd favourite came off the bench and was immediately in the thick of the action, the former Wallabies utility back soon showing he won’t just be playing a bit part for the Brumbies this season.
Expecting to play maybe 10 minutes Huxley said it felt good to be back.
“It felt like just doing what I’ve always done,” he said.
“It’s the first one under my belt and I know I can perform at that level now.”
“There’s a bit I’ve got to work on and hopefully I’ll keep getting opportunities.”
Brumbies coach Andy Friend said he was impressed with Huxley’s first Super outing in two years, saying it was a “fairytale” comeback.
“For him to get on as early as he did, just to look so composed at the back there,” Friend said.
“He came off and said, ‘I can get better Friendy’, and I said, ‘well I know you can but you’re pretty damn good there at the minute’.”
“I was really pleased and proud for him.”
The Brumbies started poorly with inside centre Matt Giteau kicking the ball out on the full from the first kick-off, gifting the Chiefs early territory which they converted into points in the third minute after No.10 Stephen Donald slotted home a penalty.
The Chiefs almost added to their tally two minutes later but Liam Messam dropped the ball while diving over the line.
But it was the Brumbies who scored the first try of the match when winger Pat McCabe found himself in space on the right side of the field before stepping inside and feeding Josh Valentine who, still with some work to do, sprinted away and dived over the line.
Young flanker Michael Hooper then showed his class five minutes later when he ran a great line off the back of a short lineout before crashing over, taking the score out to 14-3.
The 18-year-old former Australia schoolboys representative had big shoes to fill as cover for the injured George Smith and didn’t let his side down when he crossed for the Brumbies’ second try midway through the first half.
Donald kept the Chiefs in touch on the scoreboard with three penalties before converting the their first try of the match, scored by halfback Brendon Leonard, which briefly gave the visitors the lead.
Giteau slotted his third kick to reclaim the lead two minutes before the break.
Dingobob
Guest
I have been disapointed with Ben Alexander in the last few games. He is having real isues with his bind at the scrum and doesn't seem to be able to solve the problem. Fair enough some of it is good gameplay by his opposition props but that even if that is the case it's not good for the Wallabies if he is constantly dropping his bind and getting penalised.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Agreed.....there were a lot of poor options taken. One in particular sticks in my mind; The Brumbies were about 10m out from the try line, Phibbs popped up with the ball from the ruck, went down the blind with one defender in front of him....only to find that McCabe had gone infield. If the winger had stayed on the wing it was a 2 on 1.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
The Brumbies need to improve their kicking out of sight. Perhaps if they conjure and execute them in full "mindfulness" (as in the Buddhists' "being present in the moment"), instead of in a panic relfex. Don't snigger about it!! Mindfulness has become so mainstream in pain relief and anxiety control that every Tom Dick and Harry wants to make a buck by giving advice on mindfulness and producing CDs for their anxiety-ridden clients. Last year I read somewhere that even Robbie Deans had given the same advice to some Wallabies.
Chris
Guest
Well as long as Mortlock isn't in the starting side I don't mind!
Brett McKay
Expert
yeah sure, and that's a far question in reply, one I asked myself on Friday night for a large chunk of the second half. I mean how can a team enjoy possession and territory in the 80-90% range for the half and NOT score points? Poor options, like you say, is certainly the answer. I guess my point is that the refs sometimes do themselves no favours. Peyper spoke to the Chiefs several times before halftime, and then issued the "team warning" on return from the break. But then thereafter came the two penalites I mentioned - and Latimers was the worst, he was so far offside he was nearly talking to Julian Huxley - and no card was forthcoming. The Chiefs knew from that point that no cards would come, so why would they not continue infringing? I know what you're saying, about cards being a blight, but sometimes, like Friday night, not using the card is even worse. The easy conclusion to reach would be that getting rid of the cards would only make these infringments in your own 22m even more commonplace...
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The question is -- why, with the weight of possession and good attacking position, were the Brumbies not able to win the game more easily? Some will argue that it was because of blatant and cynical infringements from the Chiefs, but that's only mascarading the fact that the Brumbies took a lot of poor options. No team should need the aid of yellow cards to win. Hell, if it were up to me they wouldn't exist. I think they're a pox on the game.
Brett McKay
Expert
OJ, that may well be the case, about trusting Australian fans about refereeing criticisms, but surely when a ref issues a whole-team warning as they run out after halftime, as Peyper did to the Chiefs, and then fails to produce a card for two fairly blatant and cynical infringements in their own 22 during the second half, the criticisms surely carry some weight. I don't know what the Fox guys may have had to say about the non-cards at the time(s), but even the reasonably partisan Tim Gavel on ABC radio was left wondering...
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Dear Editors: Why are my comments always "awaiting moderation"? I'm getting paranoid.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I think Stuart Dickenson had the right idea in the 68th minute of the Highlanders v Lions game. He penalised a Highlander for falling on top of a player with the ball and then did not move away.
Glenn Condell
Guest
'As for Mortlock’s position within the team, I think he still offers a lot of leadership, defense and potentially goal kicking. With the flurry of injuries, experience on the field will be helpful. Whilst he hasn’t been the same this year, giving him the pine or the flick may be a little premature.' Agree. He has taken an age to warm up in recent seasons but is normally on the pace at the business end. Doesn't deserve a spot right now but it wouldn't surprise me to see him make us eat our words later. 'At one point I think Hoiles was doing his best imitation of Benji Marshall running at an angle and motioning for guys to cut inside of him.' Bags of talent but has a tendency at times to drop off tackles that need to be made.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
What is it with the refs letting the "other players" just flop over the top? They're not even playing the ball, all they're doing is sealing off. And since when was using your hands to support yourself being on your feet? Plenty of stop, drop, flop from the Waratahs in that game.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't think either side were hard done by. It's more a case of the refs becoming lax with the tackler releasing. We saw it tonight with ugly, Smith inspired football beating the Hurricanes. It seems they've taken the criticism of basketball scores to heart. It's a shame really because I thought both the Brumbies and Sharks looked exceedingly ordinary.
reds fan
Guest
was my kiwi mate right OJ? were the chiefs being hrashly done by? (was the ref aussie?)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Never trust an Aussie for an interpretation of the reffing. Even when their side win they whinge.
reds fan
Guest
i didnt watch the game. but its interesting reading the comments here about the Chiefs infringing. a kiwi mate was sending texts saying the officials were out to ensure the Brumbies win... as though the Ref was being very one sided against the chiefs.
Justin
Guest
AAC is the best 13 in AUS IMO. Thats where he should be playing. T Smith is not a 13, doesnt have the speed and was shone up in defence last week. Valentine, Toomua, Mortlock, Gits, AAC, MCCabe, Huxley for mine.
Empire
Roar Rookie
I feel that some aren't looking into 'why' the backline isn't getting onto the front foot. If the referee had cleared the rucks, and allowed for progressive, dynamic and quick backline play, then you may have seen the tries we are all dreaming about! Every time the Brumbies have had quick service, they have looked menacing. Last night, as I've mentioned before, the Chiefs were able to infringe and infringe around the rucks. Slow rucks = slow ball and less tries. Mortlock wasn't getting any traction because he was receiving slow and flat ball - a man of that size needs depth for him to gather pace, and barge over the advantage line. Until the referee's penalize teams (i.e. - CARDS!) for slowing the ball down at the ruck, we will not see the backline utilized properly. As for Mortlock's position within the team, I think he still offers a lot of leadership, defense and potentially goal kicking. With the flurry of injuries, experience on the field will be helpful. Whilst he hasn't been the same this year, giving him the pine or the flick may be a little premature. Again, and I have said this a few times, the prerogative of the referee is to facilitate a good game. We just aren't seeing this at the moment.
Chris
Guest
Obviously he is talking about Fanifo's wing (given Fanifo is out for the next 6 weeks). Mortlock is very much past his prime. Personally I'd start with the following next week: 9. Phibbs 10. Toomua 11. AAC 12. Giteau, 13. Smith 14. McCabe 15. Huxley with Huxley and AAC rotating as they seemed to do last night. Hopefully Mortlock is back to his best soon, but if not they can cover him. Huxley adds a lot of versatility the team didn't have beforehand. With G. Smith back they will be pretty hard to beat. If they can click it will be something special (given they have won 5 of 7 games stuck in 3rd Gear). Maybe they need a new clutch?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good win for the Brumbies and great comeback by Huxley, very gutsy. Looks like he will get more opportunities now. Speaking of opportunities, the Brumbies inability to net bonus points could well come back to bite them. With a backline full of talent it's hard to fathom why there attack isn't firing. Friend better fix the problem now or his job could be on the line. There are very high expectations for the Brumbies this season and they haven't lived up to that hype so far. At this point the ponies are in a real scrap just to make the semi's at the halfway point of the season. There first step is to get a win and a bonus point.
Chunks
Roar Pro
I've got to ask what Mortlock will add on the wing? McCabe is playing briliantly and while you might put mortlock on fainifo's wing, I just don't think mortlock has the speed, positional play or passing to be an effective wing (by passing I mean the passing that occurs at the back to shift the ball across to the fullback - has anyone else noticed how terrible mortlock is at passing more than 10m?) Past his prime I'm afraid but could still be effective off the bench to play 10 mins of powerplay at outside centre.