Brumbies prevail over desperately unlucky Queensland Reds
Unheralded Mack Hansen stepped up as the Brumbies escaped with 22-20 win over a desperately unlucky Queensland Reds as the top-of-the-table Super Rugby AU clash in Canberra lived up to its billing.
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Unheralded Mack Hansen stepped up after the bell to kick the most pressured penalty goal of his life as the Brumbies escaped with 22-20 win over a desperately unlucky Queensland Reds as the top-of-the-table Super Rugby AU clash in Canberra lived up to its billing.
The Reds were clinging to a one-point advantage as the clock ticked over to full-time when replacement flanker Fraser McReight came through the ruck and menaced the Brumbies halfback Issak Fines.
As he was to do on another 11 occasions in the match, referee Nic Berry raised his arm to signal the penalty and immediately 22-year-old Hansen stepped forward, nodded to his skipper Allan Alaalatoa and pointed to the posts.
“Discipline was one of our focal points coming into this game and we let ourselves down,” said Queensland captain Liam Wright.
“The Brumbies will do that to you. We let them off the hook. We knew they couldn’t get through our defence. But it was comforting to know we left everything on the field.”
Alaalatoa knew just how lucky a win that was.
“You have to take your hat off to Mack but credit also to the Reds. I’m really proud that we found a way to win.”
It was as shattering a defeat as the Reds have suffered in many a season, because unquestionably they had played the better rugby tonight.
The Brumbies scored three tries to two, but all of their tries came from the driving maul, while the Reds ran the ball impressive for two tries and had another to comeback Wallaby Jordan Petaia disallowed on the stroke of halftime because of a messy Lukhan Salakai-Loto tackle on Brumbies winger Tom Wright.
If this match does not revive the controversy over the legitimacy of the driving maul try from the lineout, there is something seriously wrong.
For some, it’s all a matter of forwards – and backs - working tightly together to propel the hooker over.
For its opponents, they are nothing more than organised obstruction. Certainly the second they scored – hooker Folau Fainga’a scored two, while the replacement hooker Connal McInerney scored the other – owed everything to Alaalatoa clearing a way to the line for his ball-carrier.
So, if it was driving mauls you wanted to see, there is no better side than the Brumbies.
But if it is running rugby, then the Reds stood alone.
The first try came from a loose pass in the Brumbies backline and Petaia attempted to swoop. Had he been able to gather the ball, he would have been away but he was held back off the ball by Tevita Kuridrani.
No matter, Salakai-Loto rescued the situation, unleashed centre Hamish Stewart and the Reds forwards arrived just in time to release their backline.
In the end, Petaia backhanded a pass to No.8 Harry Wilson and the Reds had begun clawing their way back from their 14-3 halftime deficit.
Just four minutes later, in the 46th minute, they were in again, as five-eighth James O’Connor unleashed a no-look pass to winger Filipo Dalgunu steaming through on the inside.
He in turn found the ever-present Wilson who clearly was searching for a second try but was cut down from behind.
He dribbled the ball back to fullback Jock Campbell who in turn found flanker Angus Scott-Young and suddenly the Reds were in front for the first time in the match, 17-14.
O’Connor pushed that out to 20-14 and could have closed out the game after Brumbies lock Darcy Swain was ruled offside but, for the first time on the night, he was astray with his penalty goal attempt.
Still, it should not have come to penalty kicks.
The Reds had all the momentum in the second half but four errant lineout throws from Alex Mafi cost them dearly.
Still, even ex-Brumby commentator Rod Kafer had reason to be embarrassed as Fainga’a’s crooked throws went unpunished. Indeed, it was not until the 68th minute that one of his throws was pulled up.
As the clocked ticked down to full-time, the Brumbies got the penalty they were working for and Banks did the rest, driving them into the corner, where McErnierey dutifully dotted the ball down with at least eight of his players protecting him from being tackled.
Hansen, who had recently come on, missed the sideline conversion which would have given the Brumbies the win. But, like his side, he would not let a second chance escape.