Close one: Win for Brumbies
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The Brumbies sealed a much-needed 24-23 success over the Cheetahs thanks to a last-ditch penalty from inside centre Christian Lealiifano.
Sitting 10-23 down at one stage in a good game, the Australian franchise launched an excellent fightback that saw captain Ben Mowen choose penalties over tries in a wise move that ultimately led to Lealiifano stepping up in a dramatic finale.
The Cheetahs will be kicking themselves after coughing up the three points at the death after being penalised by New Zealand referee Keith Brown for not driving straight at scrum-time.
And that led to Lealiifano sending the ball through the uprights to spark mass celebrations for the Brumbies, who have been made to endure a disruptive couple of days due to speculation regarding the future of head coach Jake White.
Johan Goosen had given the Cheetahs an early lead with a penalty before Brumbies right wing Henry Speight hit back with a try in the ninth minute. Lealiifano's conversion made it 7-3.
Cheetahs' left wing Willie Le Roux was looking increasingly dangerous in possession though - finding acres of room on the flanks - and he cashed in ten minutes later. Le Roux also laid on the final pass for Tewis de Bruyn to score two minutes after half-time.
For the Brumbies, Wallaby Pat McCabe scored on his return from shoulder surgery after good work from Matt Toomua in a key try that preceded a trio of penalties from Lealiifano.
The Cheetahs continue their Australian tour against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Stadium next weekend, while the Brumbies travel to New Zealand to take on the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Speight, McCabe
Con: Lealiifano
Pen: Lealiifano 4
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Le Roux, De Bruyn
Con: Goosen 2
Pen: Goosen 3
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Ita Vaea, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Scott Fardy, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Zack Holmes, 22 Joe Tomane.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cameron Jacobs, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Trevor Nyakane, 17 Hercu Liebenberg, 18 Davon Raubenheimer, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Ryno Benjamin.
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Comments
Sprogrugby says...
I watched this game last night and was quite disappointed with the refs handling of the scrum. It was a tough day with a traditionally strong and intimidating cheetah scrum against a questionable brumbies scrum that survives by trying every trick in the book - I like Alexander but his technique can be found wanting at times.
The pattern of penalties at scrum appeared to be against the cheetahs throughout the game, at times incorrectly in my opinion (early engages were as much down to the brumbies). Brown obviously lost patience with what he must have seen as consistent infringement from cheetahs, with the penalty against Strauss for moving his head highly questionable. As for the last couple of penalties and the walking around by cheetahs. Cheetahs THP leg position still appeared to be in pushing position (rather than stepping back a la whip wheel), and as ar as I'm concerned the back 5 in the scrum stepping sideways is not in itself illegal if they are maintaining a pushing position - soft penalty and as we are often asked as refs, do you want to decide a game on a soft penalty ?
I've been a fan of Keith brown as a pragmatic ref, not overly burdened by officiousness - perhaps its because its early in the season, SANZAR seminars are still ringing in the refs ears, there's no doubt it was probably quite a pressurised game - here's hoping
Posted 23:58 11th March 2012
Morgansunfish says...
Something like the canes were jonkered off the park in SA? Mr stellenbosched
Posted 05:35 11th March 2012
Ramage says...
@stellenbosched Yawn! The Cheetahs unfortunately bottled it. Suppose it was another cheating ref?
Posted 03:25 11th March 2012
Ramage says...
@stellenbosched Yawn! The Cheetahs unfortunately bottled it.
Posted 03:24 11th March 2012
FTM89 says...
@Stellenbosched
I do agree with you, the Cheetahs first 10 min off the second half were extrodinary and then suddenly only the cheetahs got penalise for basically everything at scrum time...
@Zambokke, you`ve got a point there because I thought the cheetahs had a brillant scrum going...
Posted 20:51 10th March 2012
zambokke says...
Whatever happened - home ground would guarantee a last minute penalty. Not driving straight at the scrum - difficult to prove against the ref. Good option Mr.Brown.
Posted 10:37 10th March 2012
Carpelone says...
Trinats, it seems that the 5th South African team gave a good run for their money to the 2nd Australian team.
As said, Reds were excellent winners last years, but the conference systems seems b@#?£$hit.
Apart the way McCaw c... ehmmm plays, can we agree on this?
Posted 09:52 10th March 2012
Pearcewreck says...
The great teams win the tight ones!!!
Posted 08:42 10th March 2012