Brumbies edge past Lions
The Brumbies kept their Super 14 semi-final hopes alive with a last minute 28-21 win over the Lions in Canberra on Friday.
The Brumbies kept their Super 14 semi-final hopes alive with a last minute 28-21 win over the Lions in Canberra on Friday.
With the scores level, Brumbies fly-half Christian Lealiifano scored a try in the final minute to give coach Laurie Fisher a memorable 50th birthday present.
The Lions started the game off with a bang with a try from Cobus “Baywatch” Grobbelaar after just two minutes. The Brumbies soon bounced back through captain Stirling Mortlock who scored under the posts.
With a converted try a piece, the teams were separated by two Mortlock penalties at half-time.
The Lions played far better in the second half and took the lead thanks to two tries in the space of five minutes from full-back Earl Rose. A try and penalty from opposite number Mark Gerrard drew the sides level and set up a grand stand finish.
A yellow card for Lions prop JC Janse van Rensburg proved to be the turning point of the game as the exhausted Lions just couldn't hold on at the end.
The side from Johannesburg have never won in Canberra but with twenty minutes to go it looked like they might upset their Australian hosts. But with the score at 21-13 in the visitors' favour, referee Kelvin Deaker penalised the Lions for continually using their hands on the ground and whipped out a yellow card.
Already struggling to contain their faster and more nimble opposition, going a man down was a killer blow for Eugene Eloff's side.
The Brumbies should never have been in such a precarious position to start with. Apart from a barnstorming first seven or eight minutes by the Lions in the first- half, the Brumbies were the better side for the majority of the game.
The home side didn't panic after Grobbelaar's early wake-up call and soon turned the tables on their overeager visitors.
For the rest of the half the Brumbies dominated in just about every domain but contrived to not convert their dominance into more points by failing to make the right decisions at vital times: George Smith chose to try a grubber that went too far rather than pass when Adam Ashley-Cooper was lurking on his outside near the try line and Francis Fainifo selfishly held on rather than pass to his support after breaking down the touch line.
The Lions could have punished the Brumbies by extending their lead after 20 minutes, but Rayno Benjamin dropped an easy pass with no one in front of him, just ten metres out. That moment seemed to sum up the Lions' season. Their pack had done some wonderful work to get within striking distance, only to see it all wasted.
When you have a winger who has made more knock-ons in the Super 14 than any one else, you're making life difficult for yourself. Benjamin has no lack of pace, but if you can't catch the ball – you can't run with it.
After a little more than half-an-hour Brumbies did get the try they were looking for, and they deserved it. Mark Chisholm made another one if his storming runs to set the home side up. From close-in, replacement Josh Holmes wrapped around the back of the ruck to off-load, from his knees, to a flying Mortlock, who dived in under the cross bar.
Just how good is Stirling Mortlock? Even if you're not a Brumbies fan, you would have to admit that there are few centres in world rugby in his league. And the Brumbies captain was ably aided by midfield partner Tyrone Smith. Their tussle with Lions centres Jannie Boshoff and Walter Venter was one of the highlights of the game.
The Brumbies were well worth their half-time lead but that didn't stop the Lions from charging out of the tunnel to take control after the restart. In a welcome change from many of their games this year, the team in red improved in the second period and soon took the lead.
Centre Venter and wing Louis Ludik, the pick of the Lions backs, each played a part to allow Rose to ghost through a strangely absent Brumbies defence and dot down. Four minutes later Rose was in on the act again. When nobody, from either side was prepared to commit themselves to his up and under, the ball was left to bounce – only to be retrieved by Ludik in full sprint. Rose was on hand to complete his double and the Brumbies looked in trouble.
The Brumbies seemed to be resting on their laurels a little after having such an easy time of it in the first-half. Mortlock was soon dishing out some very harsh words to rally his troops.
They lifted their game and with the Lions a man down, Gerrard touched down in the corner to round off some excellent phase play from the Brumbies who had the visitors utterly exhausted. A few minutes later Gerrard slotted a three-pointer to level the scores as Mortlock was seen barking at his players to motivate them for one last push.
The Lions were dead on their feet and when Lealiifano slipped through to score under the sticks with only seconds remaining, it seemed a fitting conclusion to Laurie Fisher's last home game as Brumbies coach.
Man of the match: The Brumbies had performers all over the park. Julian Salvi continued his excellent season and Mark Gerrard's kicking for touch was faultless. Smith played well in midfield as did fly-half Christian Lealiifano. But Stirling Mortlock gets the nod as much for his leadership skills as his thirteen points.
Moment of the match: Mortlock's flattening of Ludik with a mammoth tackle is worth a mention, but nothing can compete with a last minute game winning try.
Villain of the match: No dust-ups, bust-ups or fisticuffs to report.
The Scorers
For the Brumbies:
Tries: Mortlock, Gerrard, Lealiifano
Cons: Mortlock, Gerrard
Pens: Mortlock 2, Gerrard
For the Lions:
Tries: Grobbelaar, Rose 2
Cons: Rose 3
Yellow cards: Janse van Rensburg (61st minute – Lions – hands in the ruck)
Brumbies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 George Smith, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Nic Henderson
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Salesi Maafu, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Ben Alexander, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Josh Holmes, 22 Sanualio Afeaki
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Joe van Niekerk, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 JC Janse van Rensburg, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Eugene Maqwelana, 18 Franco van der Merwe,19 Wilhelm Koch, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Rudi Vogt, 22 Dusty Noble.
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Brett Bowden (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)