The Brumbies have booked their place in another Super Rugby AU title decider with a tense and drama-charged 21-9 qualifying final triumph over the Western Force in Canberra.
The defending champions will play the Queensland Reds in a rematch of last year’s final after being forced to pull out all stops to end the Force’s Cindarella run on Saturday night.
Making their long-awaited maiden finals appearance 16 years after entering Super Rugby, the Force had winger Toni Pulu red-carded after the halftime siren for a shoulder to the head of Brumbies centre Irae Simone.
The flashpoint no-arms tackle appeared totally unnecessary, with Simone already wrapped up by two other Force defenders.
Referee Nic Berry had no choice but to send Pulu off, leaving the Force a man short for 20 minutes.
But rather than fold, after Tom Banks swiftly punished the Force with a try from the resultant penalty to give the home side a 12-3 lead at the break, the underdogs dug deep to make the Brumbies sweat.
A second penalty goal from flyhalf Domingo Miotti to reduce the deficit to 12-6 was the only other scoring play while the Force toiled with only 14 men until midway through the second half.
Having swept into the finals on the back of successive wins over the Melbourne Rebels, NSW Waratahs and the table-topping Reds, the inspired Force had a clear game plan to disrupt the Brumbies’ set piece at every oppotunity.
It worked a treat.
Despite dominating territory and possession in the first half, the Brumbies were either bustled into error on attack or spurning penalty goal attempts in pursuit of tries.
Wallabies winger Tom Wright finally crossed for the Brumbies in the 36th minute, after Miotti had opened the scoring a minute earlier with his first penalty, before Pulu’s brain snap.
But not until replacement flyhalf Ryan Lonergan slotted a penalty goal seven minutes from fulltime did the Brumbies’ slender lead ever look safe.
The Brumbies won last year’s final 28-23 over Queensland but will head into next Saturday night’s decider in Brisbane having lost both times they played the Reds this season.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
It was Chance, but I cant delete it...
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
As a Brumbies fan I hope they’ve got something up their sleeves because they are going to need it!
Greysy
Roar Rookie
This is definitely Chance Peni. The first suspension was for a coathanger against the Crusaders. Second was a really bad lifting tackle while playing for Wests. He'd also been suspended for the same while playing for the Force - apparently he racked up four suspensions in three seasons of Super Rugby. Pulu's issue at the Brumbies was that he was always injured.
soapit
Roar Guru
Assuming petaia plays well. Will need to replace HP's spark which hasn't been JP's strong suit lately
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep - Stewart to 12 and petaia 13. Still good.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I take your point Markus. I’d never doubted Slipper but I worry for AAA. Hope you’re right
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Have I got the wrong bloke? You may well be right. Research here I come. Thanks for the pick up. Can I delete my slanderous comment?
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
I’ve never seen the Brumbies run the same set play on so many occasions as last night. They changed it up once and looked dynamite with only Tom Wrights toes letting the team down (the second time this season his knee slide has let him and his team down, dive for the line Tom with the ball safely tucked under the outside arm, or against your chest in both hands). They have done this before, played one week in a specific non threatening way, then changed it up and turned it on the next time out. Since the Reds game they have been playing the same way, giving teams a good read of what’s coming. Will they play the same way this week?
Fat Gary
Roar Rookie
Was he? This sounds like Chance Peni. Don’t remember this happening to Pulu.
Brett McKay
Expert
No, I agree that it didn't , but as Berry went through his thinking, you could hear James Leckie the TMO agreeing. He mentioned with direct head contact, and agreed with either the point about force or that there was no mitigating factors (I can't remember which one). And the end of it all Berry asked, "Does anyone have anything to add?" It was by the book, as far as I heard it..
Markus
Roar Rookie
Paisami has been good but no way has he been better than O’Connor, and definitely not as irreplaceable.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Yep
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Yes he did fit those parameters. He assumed from the answers he had received to his two questions that there were no mitigating circumstances, rather than ask if the TMO witnessed any mitigating circumstances. But, life goes on, I don’t think the red card determined the result.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Brumbies scrum weaknesses highlight how critical the second and back rows are to props. FF is not a great scrummager but they also aren't getting any power from their talls behind them, not like the Force with someone like Timani or the Reds with LSL. Slipper and AAA will come good with stronger locks and a big hooker like BPA or Uelese, though still expect Tupou to start.
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure why you call the Brumbies ‘overrated’ Republican - they’ve gone downtwice to the Reds this year and are clearly the underdogs for next weeks match. On last nights form you’d only say White, Valentini and Wright would make a Wallabies match day 22. That said, I’m sure they’ll have a good crack at the Reds next week.
Brett McKay
Expert
PS, the on-field ref is supposed to lead the process and make the final decision making in consultation with the ARs and TMO. That's what Berry did, didn't he?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Who’s not neutral?
jameswm
Roar Guru
PS you’re really clutching at straws if you’re relying on Cheika to support your argument.
jameswm
Roar Guru
TV numbers say otherwise. How about taking your negativity elsewhere?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Paisami is injured?