A sensational first-half hat-trick from Joe Tomane helped the Brumbies to victory over the Stormers and a place in the Super Rugby semi-finals against the Hurricanes, but fellow winger Henry Speight’s season could be over after he was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.
The Brumbies’ six-tries-to-one 39-19 win over the South African conference winners on Sunday (AEST) in Cape Town in the sudden-death qualifying final produced some magical attacking rugby from Stephen Larkham’s side.
The Brumbies coach was delighted with his side’s performance against the Stormers, who lacked punch without key forwards Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Burger, who failed a late fitness test.
“I’m very happy with that. Like I said before the game, we had a really short prep for this one, we had one day of training, there was no contact through the week for the boys, but tonight there was plenty of contact,” Larkham said.
The Brumbies will head to Wellington for the clash on Saturday with the table-topping Hurricanes full of confidence, but whether Wallabies flyer Speight plays is to be scrutinised by the SANZAR judiciary.
Speight was charged with a dangerous tackle on a player without the ball when he appeared to flip Stormers centre Juan de Jongh onto his head in the 74th minute.
The matter will be considered in the first instance by SANZAR judicial officer Nigel Hampton who assesses the matter before considering the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at the first hearing, Speight must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by Hampton.
Brumbies captain Stephen Moore was thrilled with the performance, particularly from the forwards with flanker David Pocock a standout, and nothing would change in their approach in Wellington.
“We know we’ve got to keep playing our game, we’ve got to keep attacking,” Moore said.
“We are going to have to score points and we’ll try and do that.”
The Brumbies went down to 13 men with five minutes remaining when Scott Fardy was sin-binned for a professional foul, but the visitors still managed to score a try as fullback Jesse Mogg crashed over one minute from fulltime.
Tomane set the game up with his three tries, his first coming on four minutes after he pounced on a grubber kick from halfback Nic White.
He had a double soon after when he finished off a quick shift to the left before scoring his third on 25 minutes when he bumped off winger Dillyn Leyds to scoot 35 metres.
Stormers five-eighth Demetri Catrakilis scored 14 points, including four penalty goals to keep his side in the game, while their only try came via an intercept to fullback Cheslin Kolbe five minutes into the second half.
Jameswm
Guest
Last word, huh? Some words seem to mean different things to you than me. If saying I don't think he meant it is defending him, then I'm guilty.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
To Jameswm. Where did I say that you said Speight should get off and did noting wrong? You have defended his actions however. You’re now accusing me of deliberately misquoting you and making inaccurate and personal comments. Where have I done any of those things? It is you that has done those things. It is disingenuous I believe for you to now imply that your reply was some cheeky humour... please? Huffy and puffy? Who was it that first said "give me a break" and "you're kidding yourself?" Now you have gone and trumped it all by referring to me as a deity. Do you really think that is necessary? I suggest you take your own advice; have a think. Over and out; see you on the next topic.
Jameswm
Guest
"what I see is Speight deliberately driving his opponent head first into the ground". Sort of says it all. That's what you see, but not what I see, "defending the indefensible". Where did I say Speight should get off? Where did I say Speight did nothing wrong? Go back and look. That's nowhere near what I said. I said he was trying to drive the guy forward (you could see this from his actions when he spoke to the ref) but it went wrong and he'll have to live with the consequences. If you want to be treated better then stop deliberately misquoting me. You dish out - inaccurate - personal comments as if you're some sort of deity ("don't defend the indefensible"), then can't cop some cheeky humour in reply? You get all huff and puffy about it? Don't know if you'll see this post but go back and look at your own comments and have a think about it.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
I mean review by the TMO.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
'fiji' asked if the TMO could point out a high tackle when the referee had asked him to review a try. "Any of the match officials, including the TMO, may recommed a review by the TMO" ......taken directly from TMO protocol document.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yes that's right Peter but 'fiji' asked if the TMO could point out a high tackle when the referee had specifically asked him to review a try.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
For SANZAR matches "A Citing Commissioner has, with limited exceptions, 12 hours from the end of the match to cite a player."
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Why can't you discuss this without the childish remarks? Litter bugs? Seriously? You said that I want to believe the worst in people. I think that is quite a personal comment and take exception to it. Why the need to make such a comment? Leave out this philosophical difference fluff and discuss what took place on the field if you can. Please review my posts and show me where I said Speight meant to hurt, possibly seriously, his opponent. I did not say that did I? To this point you have offered Speight two avenues of defence for his actions; he didn't mean to do it and rugby is a contact sport in which people get hurt usually by accident. If that is his defence and all of his defence then yes you are right, he should be happy I am not the judicial officer hearing his case.
Suzy Poison
Guest
I am a well balanced individual with a chip on both shoulders, Peter. I got my tries stats wrong apologies. And also I am eating humble pie, this morning as I predicted a Stormer's win by 10+. Brumbies were on fire.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Izzy cant kick...wow that myth keeps coming back doesn't it.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Massive over statement. Yes the Stormers were the stronger scrum but to say the Brumbies 'were on skates bar one' is an exaggeration. There were moved back a bit on just about every contest but were really only dominated once. Weaker? Yes Skates? No
Mike
Guest
Sounds just like business as usual for the Tahs. We don't strive for pinpoint accuracy so much as a "beaten zone" centred more or less along the centre line (old machine gunners or mortar men will know what I am talking about). We are guaranteed that at least 50% of our throws will go where they are supposed to,and some of the others will confuse the heck out of the opposing side who think they can work out our calls.
Mike
Guest
Which is essentially agreeing with PeterK's original point, is it not?
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
:lol:
JB
Guest
I agree Tomane is the best line breaking winger in the country and for the wallabies has always played well against the all blacks a much better option than Horne or o'connor I just don't think you can carry sprightly Folau and Tomane at the back no one can kick.
IronAwe
Roar Rookie
He means recommend for review by the citing commission.
IronAwe
Roar Rookie
I think he was hampered by all the time at 13. Not his natural position. Still, performed admirably.
Harry Jones
Expert
The Stormers won their place in the playoffs fair and square. But their form was declining as the season came to an end. The Brumbies played their best game in the playoffs. Clinical and ruthless and focused. The coaches for the Stormers have been a problem for years. Their game plan was terrible, they didn't fix the line out, they played a 80 kg 10 at the wing (speed bump?) and didn't offer any variation on attack.
PeterK
Roar Guru
then you would be a massive fan of tahs rugby
PeterK
Roar Guru
The story gets bigger every time you retell it Suzy. You obviously have a chip on your shoulder with the disdain for the tahs and Cheika. The stormers beat them 4 tries to 2 not 0. The rest I agree with except the stormers did deserve a place in the 6, they had more wins than crusaders and lions and brumbies, they rested their players on the last game as well.