Joe Tomane’s hat-trick sparks the Brumbies to win over the Waratahs

WARATAHS skipper Michael Hooper declared his side remains spirited enough to make the finals despite losing their fourth game in six.

Waratah Michael Cooper and team after a Brumbies try during the Super Rugby game between the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium .Picture Gregg Porteous

WARATAHS skipper Michael Hooper declared his side remains spirited enough to make the finals despite losing their fourth game in six to remain 13th on the Super Rugby ladder.

NSW was beaten 26-20 courtesy of a Joe Tomane treble that severely dented their finals hopes.

Tomane became the first Brumby to score three tries against the Tahs, and the visitors held off a late charge by NSW in front of 25,319 spectators at Allianz Stadium, the first victory at the venue for the Brumbies in 14 years.

NSW is now nine points adrift of Australian conference leaders the Brumbies, and must win at least five of their next six games if they are to challenge for a playoffs spot.

“It’s a building process, we’ve dropped four — we dropped four in the year we won it [2014],” Hooper said.

“The whole team is hurting, there is motivation there.

“There is a key not to have deflation within the team. That’s why the thinking needs to be around getting better in our own camp, and being excited about getting better because we’ve got so much to prove there.

“We showed at times we’ve got incredible strike power, and forwards going through holes as well, not just the backs.”

Leading 19-17 at halftime, the Brumbies managed to stifle NSW’s attacking thrust with blistering defensive line speed, relentless breakdown pressure and targeting to keep them to just one penalty goal with two minutes remaining.

While this was a much-improved performance from NSW from their last defeat to Melbourne, some of the same issues remain.

They lost far too much lineout ball, with the Brumbies successfully targeting Hugh Roach’s throw, while the scrum remains unreliable and their handling frustratingly hot and cold.

“It’s on us, our lineout was our own doing, the breakdown, credit to the Brumbies doing well there, so that’s again on us securing our ball and being better in our shape,” Hooper said.

“All our improvements are going to come within our camp, and this was an improved performance this week against a top side.

“It’s back to the drawing board and getting guys excited about being obsessed with the process.”

Two tries in the first 16 minutes by in-form winger Tomane spelled trouble for NSW, who could have caved in at 12-0 down and a host of handling errors and set-piece execution stifling their attack.

Joe Tomane attempts to bust the tackle of Michael Hooper. Photo: Gregg Porteous.

But the Tahs sparked to life in the 22nd minute when a quick passing from newly-turned centre Israel Folau to Will Skelton created space.

Skelton’s pass unleashed Jed Holloway, who sliced through the covering defence of Ben Alexander and found winger Reece Robinson who touched down for his first try since switching codes from the NRL.

Foley’s sideline conversion and penalty goal six minutes later had NSW within two points, and in the 32nd they were ahead for the first time.

A freakish break by Kurtley Beale — who was superb in attack — found debut starter Andrew Kellaway, who burst through into the Brumbies’ quarter and found Folau on the outside to score.

With that five-pointer Folau equalled Lote Tuqiri’s Waratahs’ try-scoring record, bagging his 29th try in his 51st match.

But the Brumbies struck back immediately, scoring their third try through hooker Stephen Moore, who powered over from a lineout drive five metres out.

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper and his team after another Brumbies try. Photo: Gregg Porteous.

Christian Lealiifano’s conversion gave them a 19-17 lead they took into the break.

Folau had been taken off for a concussion test within the first minute after clashing heads with Jordan Smiler, but managed to return soon after and his epic battle against Wallaby No 13 Tevita Kuridrani finished with shared spoils.

NSW made improvements in the scrummaging department, but there were a couple of humiliating moments including when they were marched back 15 metres in the 46th minute.

The Brumbies used their lineout drive to great effect, scoring the first half try to Moore, and then setting up Tomane for his third in the 49th minute.

They drove through the Tahs but were pulled just short of the line, before a quick spread found fullback Aiden Toua, whose perfect pass allowed Tomane to dive over.

NSW mounted several raids for the remainder of the game but were turned over at the breakdown or dropped the ball, including a knock-on from Paddy Ryan after fulltime that sealed the result.

Originally published as Joe Tomane’s hat-trick sparks the Brumbies to win over the Waratahs