'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again

Les Kiss’ Queensland side were the competition’s hottest thing in the opening month of the competition, but the ACT Brumbies once again showed they remain Australia’s premier side by sealing a memorable 20-19 win over the Reds in Brisbane on Easter Saturday.

In the match of the round, fly-half Noah Lolesio and fullback Tom Wright were the difference between the two sides.

The playmaker, who last wore the Wallabies jersey in 2022, banged over a tricky penalty late in each half, including in the 70th minute, to give the Brumbies the lead. It proved to be a match-winning one.

Before that Wright, who was similarly looked over for last year’s World Cup campaign by Eddie Jones, scored a try in both halves out wide to keep the Brumbies in the contest. His teammate Lolesio did the rest.

Noah Lolesio celebrates the Brumbies’ victory over the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on March 30, 2024, in Brisbane. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Kiss will look back and rue a pivotal moment in the 67th minute when replacement playmaker Lawson Creighton, who was a controversial inclusion ahead of Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, kicked too long to allow the Brumbies a prime opportunity to hit back after Josh Nasser got the Reds back in the match. It continued a poor night from the boot, as Jock Campbell and Tate McDermott earlier kicked out on the full in the first half.

The Brumbies didn’t waste the moment, as they earned a penalty and Lolesio slotted his fourth kick of the night. In contrast, Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh missed a penalty and Creighton later hit the post from a conversion attempt. Five crucial points left out there.

After replacement openside flanker Luke Reimer went to work at the breakdown to deny the Reds the quick ball they craved, the home side had one last chance to land a final blow after Ben O’Keeffe penalised the Brumbies at the scrum near the home side’s 10-metre line.

The Reds did their first job by securing the lineout, but with Harry Wilson sitting on the sidelines after being replaced late, the home side failed to get any momentum and quick ruck speed as the Brumbies’ defence held firm.

It was then left to Rob Valetini, who was excellent in the tight, and skipper Ryan Lonergan to guide the Brumbies home, as they ran down the clock and showed the required composure that seldom Australian rugby sides have over the past decade.

Former Wallaby turned pundit Justin Harrison described the match as one with a “test match intensity” about it.

“It was very defensive based, very set-piece dominated; it was a real grind,” Lonergan said.

“We spoke at half-time that our discipline and defence would win that game, and we ground that out in the end.”

The Brumbies managed to hold on against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on March 30, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Reds co-captain Liam Wright lamented his side’s little mistakes in the second half, which allowed the Brumbies the chance to get back into the match.

“It was pretty brutal,” Wright said.

“I thought the defence from both sides was physical, really up for it, you could tell that both teams really wanted it.

“It probably came down to a couple of pressure-release moments that cost us in the end, and the Brumbies capitalised really well.”

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will have pleased with what he watched.

After sitting through Friday’s ugly tussle at the Sydney Football Stadium, where the skills on display between the Waratahs and Rebels weren’t Super Rugby standard, the Brumbies and Reds played with a physicality and skill set that would match all of New Zealand’s sides.

That’s not necessarily surprising given both teams have knocked over Kiwi opposition in 2024, but for too long it’s only been the Brumbies that have shown anything remotely resembling test quality.

The Reds’ back-row once again shone, while Seru Uru’s strong start to the year continued. Out wide Jordan Petaia had his moments, but if he played with the poise of wing teammate Mac Grealy he’d be infinitely better.

For the visitors, the entire side stood up with Lolesio and Wright benefitting from the physicality hooker Billy Pollard, lock Cadeyrn Neville, Valetini and centre Tamati Tua provided.

Stephen Larkham’s use of the bench paid dividends once again too, with Pollard, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper and Reimer proving instrumental in closing out the fine win.

Early on and the Reds jumped out of the blocks quickly, as Josh Flook scored next to the posts after some quick ball.

The Brumbies looked like they were holding on by the skin of their teeth, but some last ditched defence from winger Corey Toole and impressive young No.8 Charlie Cale saw the visitors deny the Reds a second.

Then the visitors turned defence into attack, as Wright found some space out wide and put on some neat footwork to get past Campbell.

After Lachlan Lonergan was stretchered off with a nasty ankle injury, both teams were guilty of blowing a couple of chances, before Lynagh missed a shot at goals.

Lolesio didn’t blow his chance, as he slotted a long-range penalty to give the Brumbies a 10-7 lead at half-time.

The Brumbies looked like they were about to turn the screws on the Reds, but a not-straight lineout call against Pollard hurt.

Within a flash the home side were at the other side of the field after Petaia was given some room to move and put the Reds right on the attack.

The pressure quickly told, as the Brumbies infringed and then the Reds kicked for the corner. It paid off, as Nasser’s rolling maul got going despite a dubious throw and within a flash the visitors lost Rhys Van Nek to a yellow card as O’Keeffe awarded the Reds a penalty try in the 55th minute.

Four minutes later the Reds had another try, as Nasser got on the end of another rolling maul. But Creighton’s conversion hit the post, meaning the Reds led just 19-10.

Wright once again found some space out wide and scored his second try to once again show his fine form, before Lolesio’s clutch penalty saw the Brumbies take the lead.

The one-point win saw the Brumbies move into third spot on 22 points, where they are equal with the Blues and five points behind the unbeaten Hurricanes after both New Zealand sides recorded bonus point wins earlier on Saturday.

The Reds meanwhile are fifth on 16 points.