Seven-try Brumbies hammer Waratahs in Canberra

Adam Kyriacou

The Brumbies produced a slick showing to see off the Waratahs 47-14 at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Sunday, a result which moves them 10 points clear at the summit of the Australian Conference.

Crossings from Solomone Kata (2), Cadeyrn Neville, Joe Powell, Tom Wright (2) and Tom Banks saw the hosts to a ruthless bonus-point win, with Noah Lolesio adding eight points and Ryan Lonergan and Banks also sending over a conversion apiece as Super Rugby now goes into an indefinite suspension due to COVID-19.

Rob Simmons and Mark Nawaqanitawase went over for Waratahs tries, converted by Will Harrison, as they suffered a fifth defeat this season.

It was a thrilling first 40 minutes that provided five tries, with the Brumbies going in 21-14 in front as the two sides entertained the crowd.

An excellent start to the game saw the hosts impress with ball in hand, but the Waratahs defence stood up well on a perfect day for rugby.

In fact it was the Sydneysiders who struck first on 12 minutes when Simmonds, playing his 150th Super Rugby game, reached out to dot down.

The Brumbies did hit back shortly after when a kick to the corner resulted in a line-out drive before Kata went over from close range for 7-7.

The end-to-end nature of the game was a sign of things to come as more tries followed, this time a nice interchange between hooker Damien Fitzpatrick and Nawaqanitawase down the left resulting in the young winger slamming the ball down on 22 minutes. Will Harrison converted well.

However, a hit-back from the Brumbies followed when Banks burst over halfway before finding Kata, who finished nicely to make it 14-14.

There was a brief respite in the tries thereafter until six minutes from the break, when Neville forced his way over and Lolesio converted, giving the Canberra team a seven-point advantage going into the dressing rooms and ending a half that was an excellent watch for the supporters.

The first score of the second period was always going to be crucial and it went the way of the hosts on 44 minutes, Powell finishing off a nice set move that saw Andrew Muirhead join the line at pace. Compounding that try for the ‘Tahs was Kurtley Beale suffering a hamstring injury.

The double blow appeared to take the wind out of the Waratahs and the scoreline would swiftly get away from them before the hour mark when flank Jack Dempsey was sin-binned for taking a line-out jumper out in the air. Seconds later Powell found an unmarked Wright for 33-14.

Despite going down to 14 players themselves when Darcy Swain was carded after repeated team infringements, the Brumbies would not let up and, with the Waratahs chancing their arm just outside their own 22, an intercept from Wright saw him race over to make it a 26-point gap.

And with time up on the clock the hosts made it try number seven as a free-flowing move saw full-back Banks add the gloss on a superb home performance, which sends the Brumbies into the break as top dogs in Australia and just one point behind the pace-setting Sharks overall.

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