Last-gasp Brumbies prevail

The Brumbies came back from nine points down to beat the Bulls 32-31 thanks to a last-gasp try by fly-half Christian Lealiifano in what was a scintillating Super 14 encounter at Canberra Stadium on Friday.

The Brumbies came back from nine points down to beat the Bulls 32-31 thanks to a last-gasp try by fly-half Christian Lealiifano in what was a scintillating Super 14 encounter at Canberra Stadium on Friday.

It was a brave effort by the visitors, but all in vain as in the end the Brumbies had just a little more determination in the last five minutes to seal the victory.

The home side take five points from the match as they moved up to sixth place up from ninth. Two points could have easily have been five for the Bulls, but the Brumbies who keep their play-off dream intact.

The Brumbies led 22-17 at half-time but it was always questionable whether they would be able to sustain the pace and intensity with which they played in the first half. It seemed that their coaching staff didn't believe they could and changed tactics, opting to kick for field position and keep it close to their forwards.

This played to the strengths of the Bulls, who were powerful at the collision points and outpunted their opponents. In addition, the Brumbies line-out went to the dogs, robbing them of an important attacking platform.

It was an exciting first half of open, free-flowing rugby, with the Brumbies getting out to an early 10-0 lead through a Mitchell Chapman try and the boot of Stirling Mortlock.

The Bulls hit back minutes later when winger Bryan Habana scored an intercept try, running 70 metres and fending off Francis Fainifo near the line to narrow the gap to three points.

Two years ago defenders wouldn't have even entertained a thought of chasing the winger, but watching Francis Fainifo – by no means a speed merchant – hunt him down reinforced the widely held perception that Habana's afterburners have been repossessed. Only Fainifo's poor tackle technique allowed Habana to score.

The Brumbies were in again five minutes later after outside centre Tyrone Smith, kicking from deep in his own half, found the touchline just five metres out from the Bulls line. Lock Peter Kimlin then crossed for a try when the home side managed to win a line-out against the throw.

The hosts should have gone further ahead when Lealiifano broke from inside his 22m and set off on a run that culminated on him taking the wrong option in the Bulls territory.

That proved to be a costly error, after the Bulls were rewarded for consistent pressure in the 28th minute – a JP Nel cut-out pass sent Zane Kirchner over out wide with Steyn adding the extras.

In a double-blow to the Brumbies, prop Guy Shepherdson was sent to the bin for dropping a knee in on a Bulls players head in an earlier ruck leading to Kirchner try.

A Steyn penalty in the 33rd minute levelled the scores but with less than a minute in the half, Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles picked up a loose pass, broke one attempted tackle and ran 20 metres to score out wide.

Phew – and that was just the first half!

After a slow beginning to the second half, the game came to life once again with 20 minutes to go and the Brumbies leading 22-17.

The Bulls held onto the ball and scored a brilliant team try when Steyn took the ball, evaded tacklers and threw a one-handed pass to Wynand Olivier who continued his good form by stretching over to score.

With twelve minutes to go Bulls number eight Pierre Spies scored what looked to be the match-winner that put his team ahead 31-22, with the Brumbies' line-out failing and their attack impotent.

A wise Mortlock penalty chopped the Bulls' lead back to six, ensuring a thrilling finish to the match with ten minutes remaining.

Lealiifano was the hero for the Brumbies, with the young fly-half somehow making his way through a mass of Bulls defenders to score under the posts, before Mortlock converted to give his team the one-point victory.

The Brumbies are now three points behind the table leading Sharks (30 points) after both teams have played nine matches. The Bulls two points however moved them back into second place (29) on the Super 14 table – also after nine matches.

Man of the match: Zane Kirchner, Fourie du Preez and Pierre Spies were the pick of the Bulls' bunch. Stirling Mortlock, who shifted to the wing in a re-worked Brumbies back-line, was crucial to the win – kicking three conversions and two penalties. But it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who takes this award home for their match-winning effort and near flawless play throughout this pulsating match: take a bow Christian Lealiifano!

The scorers:

For Brumbies:
Tries: Chapman, Kimlin, Hoiles, Lealiifano
Cons: Mortlock 3
Pens: Mortlock 2

For Bulls:
Tries: Habana, Kirchner, Olivier, Spies
Cons: Steyn 4
Pens: Steyn

Yellow card: Shepherson (Brumbies, 28 min)

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Stirling Mortlock, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Gene Fairbanks , 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joshua Holmes, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Peter Kimlin, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Guy Shepherson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Julian Salvi, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (c), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Engels, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 20 Heinie Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jaco Pretorius.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Paul Marks (Australia), James Scholtens (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)