A stunning final quarter, including marvellous doubles to Corey Toole and Pete Samu, has seen the Brumbies finish over the top of the Highlanders to move within striking distance of the ladder-leading Chiefs.
Stephen Larkham’s side were under all sorts of pressure when Luke Reimer was sent to the sin bin seconds after Test halfback Folau Fakatava threw the world’s biggest dummy and managed to score to give the Highlanders a six-point lead after 59 minutes.
But 22 straight points, including two tries with Reimer sitting in the bin, saw the home side seal a 48-32 bonus-point win.
The victory saw the Brumbies (41) move into second spot and close to within five points of the Chiefs (46), with the top two sides in Super Rugby to play in the penultimate round of the regular competition in Canberra.
Corey Toole scored a spectacular try against the Highlanders to lead the Brumbies to a bonus point victory at GIO Stadium, on May 14, 2023, in Canberra. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
While Larkham was left far from pleased with his side’s defensive work, he will have been thrilled by the Brumbies’ composure, decision-making and fitness.
Samu, who was one of his side’s best on both sides of the ball, showed his class with the ball-in-hand by taking advantage of the Highlanders’ inability to exit their own line safely after scoring points.
But it was Toole’s second try that would have pleased Larkham the most.
After Ollie Sapsford’s up-and-under near his own 22m line came off the side of his foot, the Brumbies managed to regain the ball and Rob Valetini got the home side on the front-foot.
It was then that the home side sensed an opportunity out wide.
Noah Lolesio, who grew as the game went on and the pressure role, passed to Tom Wright and the Wallabies outside back, who is expected to re-sign on a new two-year deal, saw Toole out wide and a miss-match in front of him.
Toole burned his opponent, chipped ahead and then after a favourable bounce smartly toed ahead to score.
It was phenomenal counter-attacking rugby that was a throwback to the days when Larkham and Joe Roff made Super Rugby and the Brumbies the envy of the domestic world.
“I think it’s every week, but we’re in this ding-dong battle right up until the 60th minute and then we’ve got really good composure and confidence coming off the bench,” Larkham said.
“I don’t know what the boys were feeling, I haven’t spoken to them yet, but from the box we were a little bit nervous with the score being so tight, but they just looked so composed and so confident and you can see it with some of their calls as well.
“That try we scored in the corner, the confidence to go down the front of the lineout and allow them to get over the line.”
Stephen Larkham was pleased with his side’s resilience and composure but said the Brumbies still had plenty to do. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Toole was crucial to the Brumbies’ second half surge.
After dotting down out wide after a subline ball from Sapsford, his raw pace and skill to score his second try was straight out of the top draw.
But Larkham was quick to hose down his epic feats, saying the Super Rugby rookie needed to ensure he was just as effective on the defensive side of the ball after slipping off a tackle from Thomas Umaga-Jensen to let in a try.
“Yeah, Tooly’s going alright,” Larkham told Stan. “Man of the match, I believe. He made a couple of mistakes, he’d be disappointed with those.”
“You wouldn’t have voted for him?” Justin Harrison asked.
“Not on some the things that he did wrong,” Larkham replied.
“He does a lot of good things. We can score tries and we’re quite an exciting team to watch but defensively we’ve got to make some better decisions and we’ve certainly got to make some better tackle completions out there.”
Larkham’s not wrong, the Brumbies’ attack continues to grow but they were too easily beaten around the ruck with the Highlanders troubling the home side with the ball-in-hand.
The Highlanders’ strike power was on show all afternoon, with flying winger Jona Nareki proving a handful to bring down alongside Billy Harmon and Umaga-Jensen.
After a strange start featuring a number of scrums, the Highlanders opened the scoring when Freddie Burns banged over a penalty from straight in front after 11 minutes.
But the Brumbies would have been pleased the Highlanders didn’t elect for more, with the visitors looking dangerous early.
Their lead didn’t last long as Len Ikitau showed strength and class to somehow stretch out to score out wide and hit back immediately.
Len Ikitau scored the Brumbies’ opening try against the Highlanders on May 14, 2023, in Canberra. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Andy Muirhead was beaten minutes later in the air and Nareki pounced and easily stepped past Wright to fire back for the Highlanders.
In a see-sawing first half, the Brumbies got back in front when Jahrome Brown barged over before Highlanders prop Dan Lienert-Brown responded.
The Brumbies then punished the Highlanders once again for not clearing their own line after scoring points as Darcy Swain crashed over out wide.
Burns’ penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a 20-19 lead.
Umaga-Jensen showed his brute force by running through Toole, before the flying winger made up for his missed tackle by scoring out wide after some slick work from the Brumbies’ midfield.
The game looked to turn once again when Fakatava scored midway through the second half.
Even though Reimer did his best to roll away, the on-ball flanker was sent to the sin bin after multiple penalties from the home side near their own goal line.
But a penalty from the kick restart allowed Lolesio to kick deep into the Highlanders’ territory and a clever short lineout worked for the Brumbies as Samu crashed over to close the margin to a point.
Despite playing with 14 men, the Brumbies had all the running as Toole opened up out wide and showed off his incredible skill set to blitz the Highlanders and score.
Lolesio’s penalty gave the home side some breathing space.
While the Highlanders looked like they would hit back, some more good work from Reimer at the breakdown, which continued the fine work from Blake Schoupp, allowed the Brumbies one last chance at working towards a bonus point try.
Despite being beaten at the front of the lineout, some clever work from Connal McInerney saw the replacement hooker break free.
McInerney found a flying Ryan Lonergan, who came on before half time because of sternum injury to Nic White, who linked up with Samu to score a spectacular try and seal a marvellous comeback victory.
OwenL
Roar Rookie
You don’t have 2 outside backs on the bench
Grommit
Roar Rookie
Like the back 3 has ever worked in the last 8 years. World ranked 7th to 9th. Apart from 2021 when the Wallabies won 5 in a row.The Wallabies have always been average under the high ball, Folau excepted, but he is ineligible Let`s try to be different for once and use blistering speed as our weapon. Toole Wright Marika are all game breakers. They are my back 3 with Kells and Jordy on the bench.
Dan Gray
Roar Rookie
There’s no substitute for raw speed. Toole has it in spades. Plus the game sense that comes with his time in the 7’s program. He brings a point of difference in attack that turns games. I agree he needs to tighten his defense, but I think that will come with time and good coaching. I’d have him in my World Cup team for sure. He could be the x-factor that we need to win tight games. I reckon there are plenty of teams who would love to see him left at home ????
WEST
Roar Guru
These two working in tandem would be epic.. Koroibete, busts a hole, gets his arms lose to off load to Toole.. Toole puts on the afterburners.. no one can keep up! running race with Will Jordan or Reiko would be interesting? Not sure who’s faster??
Clippers
Roar Rookie
60 minutes. Game is grid locked and stuck in the mud with the more balanced teams frozen in a war of attrition. Enter kolbe. Enter sevu Reece. Enter dmac. Enter Shane Williams. Enter Bryan Habana. Enter Corey Toole!
Clippers
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t have Toole and Marika start together, and unless down by 14 with 20 to go, when it’s all just looking stuck in the mud and nothing going. But that situation does and has arisen frequently. With those 2 as a combo in the 23, I’d then probably have Petaia as my 14. It’s good to have some depth and fun to play hypotheticals isn’t it. I know I know, Toole is most probably a long shot, but I’m a chancing my arm and would love to see it.
OwenL
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t say he’s great he’s what you would expect of a winger/ fullback but he’s not anything special
Tony Hodges
Roar Rookie
Wright is fine under the high ball
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Ok, so are we avoiding the topic of courage then? :happy:
Richie
Roar Rookie
You need skill to execute both the tackles you speak of and both are needed for certain situations however I would have to agree a technically correct low tackle is pleasing on the eye and from experience far more pleasing to do.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Latham reminds me of TW in defence. He often looked so uncomfortable when faced 1 on 1 with a line break player.
Cec
Roar Rookie
But Bobby V is a 6 not an 8? So I was thinking Samu vs other 8s. Pts taken on work rate with Bobby & Samu.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
I learnt and consistently executed low tackles by about year 10. I find that a number of X-Factor attacking players are very poor defenders. I find it hard to believe that as paid professionals with professional coaches, they have not yet been taught and learnt how to tackle properly. Going low on a rampaging player, or at least hitting the player below the ball, takes a lot more nerve than grabbing them around the chest. Anyone who has played rugby for any significant period of time would know this.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
I’m not being difficult. My first post used courage as this “courage in contact” (meaning while tackling). You questioned my use of the term in that context, saying you don’t question his courage. I reiterated it takes courage to tackle properly (low with shoulder), you said it takes skill (which it does), but needs courage to execute which I explained. So I’m just wondering if you think it takes more courage to go low in a tackle with your shoulder than it does to go chest to chest? Having the courage to run at players in super rugby, does not mean you have the courage to go low with your shoulder and tackle properly.
Richie
Roar Rookie
In your first post. You’re being difficult Passit.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
This is the first half of my post. “You don’t think it takes more courage to go low with your shoulder into a running no.8 or a large outside back, than it does to go chest to chest and grab them high? Come on, let’s be real”. So let’s have a conversation on my use of the term courage.
Richie
Roar Rookie
Read my posts properly and comment on what I say and I’ll have a conversation with you. I was not questioning your opinion on Toole’s ability to tackle (which I happen to agree with you on), I was questioning your use of the term courage. So yes , come on, let’s be real.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Kirwan struggles with reality, it is sad really.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
You don’t think it takes more courage to go low with your shoulder into a running no.8 or a large outside back, than it does to go chest to chest and grab them high? Come on, let’s be real. Beale wouldn’t do it, TW struggles with it and QC would never do it until he started his come back as a more mature player. It’s all players responsibility to tackle properly. If they can’t, they are simply a turnstile for more opposition tries.
cs
Roar Guru
Although Jordan has developed into a decent defender.