Brumbies end 'Tahs run

The Waratahs tasted defeat for the first time in the 2009 Super 14 on Friday, going down 21-11 to a slick Brumbies team at Canberra Stadium.

The Waratahs tasted defeat for the first time in the 2009 Super 14 on Friday, going down 21-11 to a slick Brumbies team at Canberra Stadium.

The Brumbies have close to a 90 per cent win rate against Australian teams and the team from the capital were on song once again in an Aussie derby.

After being on the receiving end of a Waratahs onslaught in the first 40 minutes, the home side found their running legs in the second half to outscore the visitors from Sydney two tries to one.

The Brumbies led from start to finish, as the Waratahs were unable to reproduce the defensive intensity that saw them win their first four games.

The early pressure came from the Waratahs, but it was the Brumbies who got on the scoreboard first as Mark Gerrard slotted a 35m penalty with ease just before the clock struck ten minutes.

Any fears that the Waratahs scrum would fall apart without Matt Dunning and Al Baxter were dispelled early on as 20-year-old Dan Palmer showed that he is more than just bulk (123 kg). When his scumming opponent, Nic Henderson, was pinged for collapsing the scrum, Kurtley Beale had a chance to level the scores but his penalty attempt hit the post to leave the 'Tahs trailing.

The Waratahs were enjoying lots of territory and possession in the first half-an-hour, but a combination of Gerrard's massive boot and the Brumbies scramble defence proved to be an effective antidote to the visitors' enterprise. George Smith was making his presence felt at the breakdown, depriving the Waratahs of clean ball.

Unfortunately, after an exciting start, the game turned into the arm wrestle we expected. At least bit of slap-'n-tickle between Dean Mumm and Stephen Hoiles provided some entrainment.

It took all of 32 minutes for the Brumbies to threaten the Waratahs line for the first time. A brain-fade from Wycliff Palu earned the Waratahs number eight a yellow card and gave Gerrard a chance to extend the lead. Palu's cynical offside handed the home side three more points and the Brumbies full-back hit the target from right out in front.

Beale hit the posts for a second time a few minutes later and then sent his third attempt at goal way wide. The team in blue had done all the hard work, were dominating in terms of both territory and possession but had nothing to show for it.

Beale finally got his bearings right on the stroke of half time and the teams headed for the changing rooms with the home side 6-3 up.

The Brumbies got the second half off to cracking start, running straight and off-loading at the right times to build pressure. It took four minutes for the home side the break the 'Tahs defence as Stirling Mortlock took the ball up in space before feeding Adam Ashley-Cooper on the wing and the Wallaby back finished off in clinical style. It was classic Brumbies stuff.

The Waratahs weren't going to change what has worked for them in the past and continued with their crash-boom-bang direct-style. The 'Tahs scrum wasn't getting any softer either and Beale could reduce the gap to five points when Brumbies prop Guy Shepherdson was adjudged to have collapsed the set piece.

As is often the case, the match loosened up on the hour mark and it was the Brumbies who struck next.

Tyrone Smith split the Waratahs midfield and had the visitors scrambling backwards. With Sam Norton-Knight in the blood bin the 'Tahs defence was in disarray. The Brumbies kept off-loading to take the ball right up to the try line. Stephen Moore then pounced on a loose ball and Ben Alexander used his strength to crash over.

At 18-6 down a reaction needed to come from the Waratahs, but Phil Waugh's troops seemed to lack the spark needed to crack the Brumbies line.

Gerrard slotted another penalty to put the result beyond doubt with six minutes to play.

A deft kick-pass from Lote Tuqiri put his opposite wing Lachie Turner in for a late consolation try, but it was too little too late. The Waratahs wings had hardly touched the ball all game.

A win against last year's finalists makes for the perfect send-off as the Brumbies head to South Africa, but they will need to work on their set piece before tacking on the Lions.

Man of the match: Mark Gerrard and Tyrone Smith were both influential in the Brumbies win, but George Smith was the man of the moment once again. The flanker was tireless at the breakdown point and was one step ahead of Phil Waugh for most of the game.
The Scorers

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Ashley-Cooper, Alexander
Cons: Gerrard
Pens: Gerrard 2

For the Waratahs:
Try: Turner
Pens: Beale 2

Yellow cards: Palu (Waratahs – 32nd minute – cynical off side)

Brumbies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joshua Holmes, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Sitaleki Timani/Shawn Mackay, 19 Julian Salvi, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Clyde Rathbone.

Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne , 12 Timana Tahu, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Caldwell, 4 Chris Thomson, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Luke Doherty, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Tom Carter.

Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Paul Marks (Australia), Pro Legoete (South Africa)
TMO: Geoff Acton (Australia)