How Brumbies give Australian rugby hope of resurgence
For all the mess Australian rugby funds itself in right now, the ACT Brumbies are the constant reminder that there’s always some hope. Plus, the Reds suffer a massive injury hit.
For all the mess Australian rugby funds itself in right now, the ACT Brumbies are the constant reminder that there’s always some hope.
Year after year, in good times and bad, the Brumbies are often left flying the flag in Super Rugby once the other Aussie teams have tossed in the towel.
They’re doing it again this season.
With three rounds to go in the regular season, the Brumbies are sitting third on the ladder, behind two New Zealand teams - the Blues and the Hurricanes.
Their latest win - 29-21 over the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on Saturday - was their ninth in 2024.
It wasn’t their best performance of the season but it was still good enough to get the points on a wild and wet night where the field was covered in puddles from the torrential downpours.
“I thought it was a quality game,” Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said.
“We probably didn’t adjust to the conditions in the second half, mainly probably in the last five minutes when we started to pick and drive through the ruck. So it took us a little while to adjust to it, but I’m really proud of the boys’ effort.
The foul weather actually made for a great contest in a season packed with high-quality matches.
The Brumbies were unbackable favourites after beating NSW in each of their 12 last head-to-head encounters but the Waratahs stayed in the match right until the end.
The Brumbies looked home and hosed when they led 22-7 with 20 minutes to go after Charlie Cale scored in the first half then Rob Valetini and Len Ikitau went over in the second term.
But the Waratahs pulled back to within a point after tries from skipper Jake Gordon, Joey Walton and Tane Edmed before Sosefo Kautai sealed the win for the Brumbies when he planted the ball over the line in the last minute.
Currently second last on the ladder, the Waratahs need to win their last three games and hope other results go their way to have any chance of joining the Brumbies, Reds and Rebels in the playoffs.
“I thought the second half, I know we started probably not the best, but we seemed to force a lot of pressure at the breakdown, we got some pay with our kicks and actually put ourselves back in the game,” Gordon said.
“So I was happy with the fight in the second half but , yeah, some interesting calls in that second half.”
REDS FINALS HOPES DEALT BLOW
The Reds’ finals hopes have been dealt a massive blow with star No.8 Harry Wilson sustaining a broken forearm in Friday night’s 26-22 triumph over the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium.
Barnstorming No.8 Wilson had been in a tremendous vein of form this season for finals bound Queensland, but is likely to undergo surgery on his arm which he injured in the Reds titanic comeback win that Reds co-captain said was a game “we might have lost earlier this year”.
Wilson’s kick returns, ball carrying, offloading and defence has been a big part of Queensland’s success this year, but they will have to look elsewhere for energy at the back of the scrum when they face the Fijian Drua, Western Force and Waratahs and then into the finals series.
“He’s got a broken forearm... Perhaps some surgery... I’m not sure of the severity... I believe there has to be likely surgery for it,” Reds coach Les Kiss said following Friday’s victory.
Lineout maestro Wright said Wilson had been in great form this season and had stepped up massively as a leader and a voice for the team.
“ I think Harry, Fraser and myself have built a nice combination in the backrow but I was really impressed with John Bryant filling in at No.7... it opens up a spot there towards the back.
“I thought he did an excellent job coming on, bringing energy... he’s dynamic... he’s got that little bit about him and we have other guys knocking on the door as well.”
Versatile forward Seru Uru was also a top candidate for Wilson’s spot, alongside Bryant and Joe Brial and Kiss said the Fijian powerhouse could be due for a homecoming as soon as next week in Fiji against the Drua.
He said the Fijian lock, flanker of No.8 could be ready for that clash after recovering from a broken thumb sustained early in the season.
“Seru, he could be available next week. It is that close,” Kiss said.
“He’s got to be very very close to being available.
“I am pleased because young guys are stepping up... there are some really good qualities coming through from our depth.
“This is just another chance with Harry out.”
Reds storm home to secure Super Rugby finals spot
The Queensland Reds all but secured their spot in the Super Rugby Pacific finals on Friday after escaping a Suncorp Stadium upset, 26-22, with a super slick burst of second half try-scoring.
The Reds flipped a 15-5 halftime deficit into a 26-15 lead with a 21-0 burst in just 10 minutes when the Melbourne Rebels were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card midway through the second half.
Veteran Reds flyhalf James O’Connor had a handful of positive involvements in his return from a hamstring injury.
Coming off the bench, O’Connor made his first appearance for the Reds in 356 days. His last game was against the Chiefs in last year’s semi-final.
The Rebels, who were without Taniela Tupou (failed HIA) for almost the entire match, threatened to break the hearts of Queensland fans in the 79th minute when they rampaged towards the tryline down 26-22 and hunting a match winning try, but determined Reds defence forced a crucial error.
Reds co-captain and halfback Tate McDermott also returned from a three game match ban and was a bundle of energy coming on early in the second half.
“Yep for sure (we felt his presence)” Reds midfielder Hunter Paisami told Stan Sport after the game.
“Tate is a world class No. 9, to have him out there with his experience to finish off the game with his speed at the ruck… it was awesome for us.”
“It was good to be back … Awesome just to feel the energy to feel the energy of Suncorp again,” James O’Connor said after a 20 minute cameo to finish the game.
COVER TACKLING HERO
Down 15-5 five minutes after oranges, the Reds put together their best attacking raid of the game as Jock Campbell, Hunter Paisami, Mac Grealy and Kalani Thomas combined wonderfully down the left side of the field.
Offloading their way to the line, the Reds were closing in with Fraser McReight bounding towards the line, but coming across to make a trysaving cover tackle was tireless Rebels flanker Vaiolini Ekuasi.
The mobile big man from New Zealand was exceptional all night long up until this play, a huge defensive effort where he made a ton of ground to get from the middle of the field to the left touchline.
The Rebels had escaped, but not for long.
CARDED
The turning point in Friday’s skirmish was Rebels winger Lachie Anderson being yellow carded in the 55th minute.
The Reds trailed 15-5 when Anderson was the unlucky one sent off after repeated team infringements of offside gave referee Paul Williams no choice but to send him off after rushing up in an attempt to stop a threatening Mac Grealy from scurrying away down the left sideline.
The home side immediately capitalised with headgeared breakaway Fraser McReight dotting down a try off a vicious Reds rolling maul.
The Reds were back and scored two more tries in no time to cap off a 21-0 scoring run and lead 26-15 with 15 minutes to go.
CAMPBELL IS KING
A stellar try by Reds fullback Jock Campbell to take his side’s first lead of the contest eclipsed the Reds stunning second half comeback.
In the 60th minute, the Reds backs combined beautifully to put Campbell through a hole and the silky fullback evaded three defenders on his way to scoring the go-ahead try.
Campbell, with both hands on the ball leaving his rivals in two minds, zigzagged his way to the line where he dealt a huge blow to the Rebel’s hopes of keeping their halftime buffer.
The Rebels hit back through Maciu Nabolakasi to trail 26-22 with nine minutes to go but the Reds defence held firm and swamped the Rebels late in a frantic finish.
HARDWIRED FOR THE TRYLINE
More Coverage
He has scored six tries in three games.
20-year-old star Tim Ryan was born for this.
On Friday, he again made things look easier, with a high flying catch off a Kalani Thomas box kick and a fantastic finish down the right touchline highlights in his third appearance for Queensland as a starter.
Originally published as How Brumbies give Australian rugby hope of resurgence
New Wallabies skipper as injuries hit
The newest Wallabies captain lasted just a week in charge after injuries forced a line-up change for the second Test against Wales.
Reds star intent on retaining Wallabies jersey
Queensland star Hunter Paisami has embraced his return to the Wallabies team after a lengthy absence.
‘Chip on your shoulder’: Debutant’s hard road
A bold prediction from his rugby-loving dad nearly came true for one of new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s debutants who is in for a special treat this weekend.