Brumbies tame House of Pain
The Brumbies kept their playoff hopes alive by recording a 29-10 bonus-point win in Dunedin.
The Aussies scored three tries in the first half, but only managed their fourth three minutes after the siren had sounded for full-time. The bonus-point lifts the ACT side to fourth on the log, as they possess a better points difference to that of the Chiefs. However, they will still need the Reds to win at Loftus Versfeld tonight if they are to go through to the playoffs. They finished with a flourish, but barring a miracle in Pretoria, they will now bow out.
Their intent to shift the ball wide was patent in the early stages, but the urgency caused them to force the play a bit too much and many handling errors occurred as a result. After enjoying much of the early possession, they finally found some structure and in the 11th minute scored their first try through Julian Huxley. Stirling Mortlock took a beautiful floating pass and popped to Huxley who cut back nicely to avoid a flimsy tackle. The former Reds man showed great strength and skill to finish, and from this point, it never looked like the visitors would lose.
In fact, the Brumbies maintained the pressure through a Adam Ashley-Cooper try right off the subsequent kickoff. The Wallaby utility back rolled out of one tackle attempt, sprinted down the line and dragged Jimmy Cowan with him as he crossed the whitewash. Mortlock then picked up a five-pointer of his own as the Brumbies elected to pass up the three-points once again, and by half-time they were well ahead at 22-3.
The game lost its shape in the second half, with plenty of mistakes and turnovers costing both sides any semblance of structure. The hosts had been intense at the breakdown, but George Smith continues to impress this season and was often the man coming up with the ball when the Highlanders looked to attack. But the Brumbies were equally guilty of squandering opportunities, as the ball squirted out of a ruck on the ‘Landers side of the tryline on more than one occasion.
Jone Towake was the Brumbies battering ram, providing much of the momentum they need to initiate their phase play. The ‘Landers defence was disappointing considering the standards they have set this season, and often they had to resort to negative play to cull a Brumby attack. Eventually referee Craig Joubert ran out of patience and binned Anton Oliver in the 62nd minute after the Highlanders hooker infringed inches from his own goal line.
The Aussies’ defence was typically brilliant, but relented at the last when Jason Kawau neglected to use the overlap and bust through on his own.
It was a frantic final few minutes as the possession exchanged hands several times in the same movement. The Brumbies showed their composure to stretch the ‘Landers defence once again, and after a tiring period of play, Mark Chisholm surged over for the fourth try. The Chiefs are out of playoff contention, and all Aussie hopes now hinge on the Reds winning in the Pretoria tonight.
Highlanders - Try: Jason Kawau. Conversion: Nick Evans. Penalty: Evans.
Brumbies – Tries: Julian Huxley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Mark Chisholm. Conversions: Mortlock (3). Penalty: Mortlock.
By Jon Cardinelli
May 5th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Dragons – Brumbies must get a klap!
Sorry Aussies.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Anton to play the best game of his life – he’s the sort of bloke who needs to go out with a bang!
Umanga to do the same a couple of hours later, except it will be the team (and the fans) that lift themselves for his last game.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:18 am
But i think not – Act a class team & it’s the last game for Gregan & Larkie.
The bets to them in future – but not in WC – sorry!.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Right bloggers – i got to go – will post later today when the important games start
- may the best team win
&
the sky not fall on our heads!
May 5th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Hallo Ricane
I hope for Brumbies to win with 6 for my Superbru points
May 5th, 2007 at 7:41 am
I hope for a nice clean game. At the end of the day, it is the game that wins.
****, now I sound like a Aussie. Go Landers. Kick ***.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Go Brumbies. They might still make it if Reds beat the windgat bulls. aussieboer. com
go Reds
May 5th, 2007 at 7:49 am
hey JL
are you Americo?
If so you don’t need the points, you’re already ahead of me!
Go the Highlanders, enjoy the game all, I’m missing this one as I’m off to say Farewell to Capt. Tana Hurricane.
May 5th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Brumbies need 2 tries to go ahead of the Chiefs
May 5th, 2007 at 8:17 am
TV1 sport livescoring still has the score at 15-3 …. twats
May 5th, 2007 at 8:19 am
I may have to go watch the Warratahs get hammered to feel better
May 5th, 2007 at 8:22 am
KevinD you a saffa
if you are your a doos
May 5th, 2007 at 8:27 am
This has all been messed up by the Blues getting a bonus point. Two Australian teams conspiring!!!
May 5th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Brumbies just need 1 try and to win by more than 10 points
May 5th, 2007 at 8:40 am
wls1
Take it as a compliment! That’s the one thing you can’t get. u & u’r hand tonite?!
May 5th, 2007 at 8:54 am
nice and clean….
…who cares what country he is from. He can support whom he wants…like politics
And I am sure his comment is made less because of the Bulls team and more because of the “windgat” attitude of all those fake Bulls supporters on this site.
May 5th, 2007 at 8:58 am
what is “windgat”?
May 5th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Vain with a **** attitude combined
May 5th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Chch,
windgat could be arrogant, cockey, “show off” attitude. Not necessarily a bad attitude, but obviously flaunting something in the face of others
May 5th, 2007 at 9:01 am
It will be very funny if the Brumbies fail to get the 4th try
May 5th, 2007 at 9:03 am
It will be more than funny. Hillarious & fantastic! Even more so if the Highlanders can get a converted try as that will give my superbru prediction a much needed lift!
May 5th, 2007 at 9:06 am
and as if a prophecy came true – Try Highlanders!!
May 5th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Hallo scar – how are you this morning?
May 5th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I am well Karen, waiting for the milk delivery to have breakfast! Scar-wyfie is concerned that I am getting PC-addiction!
You well?
May 5th, 2007 at 9:10 am
#24 – I’ll send some blue cows from the N2
Well Scar-wyfie might be right but it is a good addition. Geez at least I got it spot on for this mornings game – I predicted that the Brumbies would win by 12 – need the superbru points after the Saders lost.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Same here, I have Brumbies with 13. Need the final whistle now!!
May 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Yes but they just keep on playing.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:13 am
TRY BRUMBIES – there goes my bonus point – ag nee man
May 5th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Go the Brumbies!!!!aussieboer. com. Nou vir die REDS!!!
May 5th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Chiefs need the final whistle now
May 5th, 2007 at 9:14 am
noooooo
May 5th, 2007 at 9:15 am
****, please miss the conversion
May 5th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Brumbies go to 4th spot
May 5th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Hard luck chch.
Scar – nee man die man sal dit mos nie mis nie.
Daar gaaaaat my bonus punt.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Last weekend I did not even get one 5-point margine point. Like the same thing will happen this time around
May 5th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Geez the top part of the log is congested (and infested
) so it all hangs in the balance till this afternoons game Stormers/Sharks – Bulls should take it against the reds.
Cheers I am out of here – chat later.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Crusaders will play either the Blues, Bulls, Sharks or Brumbies.
Looking like the Blues
May 5th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Congrats to the Chiefs anyway. They almost made the semis while only winning half their games. Perhaps not enough bonus ponts in the end
May 5th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Bugger… hope it is an all NZ v SA semi
May 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Seems like it will be the case KiwinOz
Cheers all, catch up later.
Go the ‘Canes, but not by much please!!
May 5th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Looks like the bullz aint gonna make the semis.
May 5th, 2007 at 11:09 am
41 huh?
May 5th, 2007 at 11:19 am
The ‘House of Pain’ demolished again.
Not Tackler’s year, 2007.
May 5th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Die Bulls beter wen…..
Ek sal dit nie duld dat ‘n Aussie span in die semi’s is nie.
May 5th, 2007 at 11:38 am
The Australians seldom have trouble prevailing at Carisbrook. The Waratahs, in particular, regard it as their happiest hunting-ground.
Its the Yarps who find it such a jinxed ground. The Springboks have NEVER won there!
May 5th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Tackler
The Bulls pissed all over that place a month ago.
The smell still lingers, nothing like Bull piss to remind you.
May 5th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
The Bulls and their fans are full of piss. And wind.
May 5th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
46 Pietman,
Is dit wat so stink daar op Nuweland?
May 5th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Staal
Juis! En die brouery.
May 5th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
What a pathetic showing by the Highlanders it shows that the boys did not want to play for eachother not good, oh well always next year if the Kiwi teams can form a team after losing so many players of that calibre for next year.