The Brumbies’ Super Rugby finals hopes remain alive after an upset 24-12 victory over the Hurricanes – their first win against a New Zealand team since 2016.
They still need to win their last two matches and rely on other results to avoid missing the post-season for the first time in six years, but their triumph over the second-placed Wellington side on Saturday night gives them hope.
Missing key players Allan Alaalatoa, Sam Carter and Lachlan McCaffrey, the Brumbies started slowly but didn’t panic as they worked their way into the match at GIO Stadium for their third-straight win.
The Hurricanes, who lost their third-straight match, produced a fast start after captain TJ Perenara scored a freak try by diving to intercept a Joe Powell pass in the corner.
The Brumbies didn’t drop their heads as centre Kyle Godwin crossed five minutes later to reduce the deficit to two points after captain Christian Lealiifano missed the conversion.
The Hurricanes, who went to Canberra without stars Beauden Barrett, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea and Brad Shields, took a 12-5 lead into the break through a try from Julian Savea.
The game didn’t go to the script of most trans-Tasman games in the past three years as the Brumbies hit the lead following early tries in the second half to hooker Folau Fainga’a and lock Rory Arnold.
Fainga’a’s effort made the Brumbies the first Australian team to reach 1000 Super Rugby tries and third in competition history behind the Hurricanes and Crusaders.
The Hurricanes held on despite Blade Thomson being sin-binned shortly after the Brumbies’ third try but winger Andrew Muirhead conversion in the 78th minute sealed the match.
The only concern for the Brumbies was a shoulder injury to Wallabies prop Scott Sio, who went off early and never returned to the field.
ClarkeG
Guest
Ken - you answered your own question in your first post. Since when is a player not allowed to play an opponent who has the ball. Since when is a player not allowed to rake the ball from an opponents grasp. The ball clearly went backwards. The match officials explained this at the time.
JP
Guest
Oh get over it and stop being so fickle.
JP
Guest
Oh stop being so fickle and take it on the chun .
ClarkeG
Guest
Well if he knocked the ball backwards then what's the problem exactly?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Three pronged defence from usual suspects. Still no answer to my question, was not Barrett’s charge an attack on the ruck half back, and isn’t that illegal? I don’t care particularly where you come from, but please refer to the law book, not my identity as a Wallaby fan, or Richie’s status as a formerly targeted player or your wounded feelings about Richie being called a ‘cheat’. Because the way it reads at the moment gents is that Oz fans cannot ask a fair question, on an OZ site, about an issue, current and relevant, without response from AB fans with a maturity and logic more befitting the cheap seats at Eden Park in 2011.
terrence
Guest
yea, cheika is also the main culprit for global warming..
P2R2
Roar Rookie
the law and the TMO state if the ball is knocked backwards...it is okay....what is it with Aussie fans...you protecting an endangered species...Wallabies...?
P2R2
Roar Rookie
if you do...then WR will throw them under the bus a la Gardner in the AB v France test....is that what you want...?
P2R2
Roar Rookie
oh and while you are at it...the BLATANT shoulder to the head of a Canes forward - not picked up and the x2 forward passes...jeez....I am with you and everyone else about the Refs getting their stuff together to make the game a better spectacle and anyway the Canes were terrible!
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Take a cold shower and get over your self
Jerry
Guest
Who with the what now? I'm not sure what you're asking.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Pococks acting and throwing his hands in the air is not helping
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Two refs...Please no
Old Bugger
Guest
I'm waiting for everyone else to call him a cheat TM. More the pity because he is without doubt, a proven menace at the breakdown just like RM was and yet, Poey's supporters didn't waste any oxygen calling RM, a cheat.
Old Bugger
Guest
Haha....I'm waiting for everyone to start labelling DP a "cheat....." One thing's for sure tho' - he is a menace at the breakdown which reminds me of RM, in his early years.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Does it matter if the fans are? Pity they won through being less cynical though. Perhaps they could win through playing better rugby? Poeys a big boy but needs to cut the theatrics. Getting the McCaw attention lately? Sign of a good player I guess.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
No, Clarke, I don’t think that the Brumbies were cynical but we have to be very simple and careful on these pages. The referee kept the Canes in that game. Did anyone else see Barrett guilty of attacking the half at the ruck under the Canes posts in the first half? He was ruled legal because he knocked it backwards. Any Roar refs care to explain?
Clarke
Guest
The Brumbies were "cynical" as well ?
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Where do you think out who got these off field warnings?
ClarkeG
Guest
"funny one liner" - oh yeahhh right.