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The Brumbies’ Super Rugby finals hopes are hanging by a thread after suffering a heart-breaking 25-24 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town.
A missed conversion by Christian Lealiifano to a late David Pocock try proved the difference in a fiery, derby-like match early on Sunday morning (AEST).
The Canberra-based franchise led 16-3 two minutes before the half-time break but couldn’t hold on, conceding 19 unanswered points on the back of a string of penalties.
Pocock’s effort in the 70th minute reduced the gap to a single point, only for Lealiifano to clip the post in what was a relatively simple kick.
“I knew it was going to be tough here, but I’m proud of the effort,” said skipper Stephen Moore.
“We’ve had a lot of close losses this year and we’re certainly very disappointed.”
The Brumbies, desperate for a win to keep their premiership bid alive, tried to get under the skin of their South African rivals with plenty of niggle.
But it was a costly tactic by the visitors, who gave away a total of 17 penalties – five of which the Stormers’ Demetri Catrakilis converted into points.
“I guess we were competing hard at the breakdown and that’s the way it goes sometimes,” said Moore.
“But certainly we probably gave away far too many penalties and that let them back into the game.”
The Stormers had struggled in the first half, a slew of handling errors and a strong Brumbies’ defence preventing them from making much ground.
A converted Joe Tomane try in the 17th minute was all that separated the two sides at the break, with each kicking three penalties – including a 52m screamer by Jesse Mogg.
Two penalties within the first 10 minutes of the second half and a yellow card to Jorden Smiler for a dangerous flip tackle saw momentum swing the way of the Stormers, whose persistent pressure eventually paid off on the hour mark through a Schalk Burger try.
Up 22-16, it was the first time the home side had led the match, with Catrakilis sealing the victory with a field goal in the 66th minute.
Burger said it was clearly a game of two halves.
“For starters, it was pretty much Test-match intensity out there,” the man-of-the-match said.
“If you look at the niggle it was more like a local derby than it was the Stormers playing the Brumbies.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.