Brumbies hold off Reds to win Super Rugby AU title

David Skippers
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The Brumbies finished their Super Rugby AU campaign on a high when they claimed a 28-23 victory over the Reds in the final in Canberra on Saturday.

In a fast-paced and action packed encounter, the Brumbies were full value for their win as they held the upper hand for most of the match, although they were severely tested during the closing stages when the Reds launched several attacks but the home side’s defence held firm.

If the truth be told, the Reds were their own worst enemies as they committed too many unforced errors which eventually cost them the game. In the end, the Brumbies outscored them three tries to two with Folau Fainga’a, Andy Muirhead and Tom Banks crossing the whitewash for the home side and Noah Lolesio contributed 13 points courtesy of two penalties, a drop goal and a couple of conversions.

For the Reds, Harry Wilson and Angus Blyth scored tries while James O’Connor added three penalties and two conversions.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested and the sides were deadlocked at 3-3 after 15 minutes after Lolesio and O’Connor traded early penalties. The Brumbies gained the initiative in the 17th minute, however, when Fainga’a crossed for the opening try in trademark fashion off the back of a lineout drive deep inside Reds territory.

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The home side continued to dominate over the next 10 minutes and were rewarded in the 26th minute when Muirhead went over for their second five-pointer. Tevita Kuridrani laid the groundwork with a strong carry before Lolesio put Muirhead in the clear with a deft offload and the wing did well to power through three tackles before dotting down.

The Reds needed a response and that came on the half-hour mark courtesy of a moment of magic from Jordan Petaia. The 20-year-old set off on a mazy run, after gathering the ball on his 10-metre line, and flummoxed the Brumbies defence with deft footwork before delivering a backhanded pass to Wilson, who had an easy run-in over the try-line.

That score proved to be a shot in the arm for the visitors, who had the better of the half’s closing stages and on the stroke of half-time O’Connor slotted his second penalty which meant the Brumbies held a slender 15-13 lead at the interval.

The Brumbies made an excellent start to the second half when, five minutes after the restart, Banks ran onto a pass from Irae Simone inside the Reds’ 22 and the Wallaby full-back did well to step past a couple of defenders before crossing the whitewash.

Momentum was now with the home side and shortly afterwards they extended their lead when Lolesio landed his drop-goal from 35 metres out. The Reds suffered a further setback when, from the restart, Filipo Daugunu was yellow carded after a tip-tackle on Lachlan McCaffrey.

Despite suffering from a numerical disadvantage, the Reds continued to concede penalties and in the 55th minute Lolesio succeeded with his second three-pointer off the kicking tee which gave his side a 28-13 lead.

The Reds responded with another penalty from O’Connor before Blyth scored under the posts from close quarters in the 64th minute, after a brilliant run from Tate McDermott in the build-up.

That set up a tense finish and although the Reds launched several attacks in a bid to haul in their opponents, they were met with a solid defensive effort from the Brumbies, who are crowned champions after also finishing atop the table during the league phase of the competition.

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