brumbiescoverage17-blog

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tough loss, but this was magic

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Brumbies on a week off, no John I Dent Cup, broke out the dancing shoes at Groovin the Moo Canberra

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Photo from AAMI Park, Rebels VS Brumbies

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playing first grade in the John I Dent Cup

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Analysis Piece

Brumbies vs Blues

 The Brumbies were unable to get a win against the Blues, losing 12-18 in a bruising encounter in the Capital. Here, we look at some of the key factors and performances which shaped the score line.

 Defensive Showdown

 With the sun beaming down on GIO Stadium, Sunday evenings game should have been a perfect opportunity for both sides to show off their attack. It was clear from the early going however, that these sides were a great match for each other, with neither side able to string phases together.

 It was a defensive masterclass from both teams. The Blues stifled the Brumbies, playing three full-backs in phase play and coming up hard in a line. When they had the opportunity, they targeted the breakdown, particularly with Akira Ioane. The Brumbies defended admirably throughout the game also. The Brumbies tend to defend quite narrow, and were caught out a few times by the Blues. However, their recovery tackles were executed very well, and the Blues rarely cut the Brumbies open. The Brumbies red-zone defense was excellent. A sign of a team’s desire to win is how they defend in their own 22, and the Brumbies stood up on a number of occasions, stopping the Blues close to their line.

 Brumbies execution in attack

 In these tight, defensive games, you have to take your chances when they come. The Blues did, and that’s why they won the game. If you take Melani Nanai’s try, which secured the win for the visitors as an example. The two passes which put Nanai in for the score, were perfect, Matt Duffie’s inside ball especially. Executing these skills under extreme pressure, is what turns half-opportunities, into tries.

 The Brumbies simply made too many mistakes when they had the ball. Many of these errors can be attributed to the defensive effort of the Blues, but the Brumbies will still be disappointed they let chances slip. The Brumbies have shown in previous rounds, that they have the ability to score with the best. Against the Blues, they had an off night, not executing when they needed to.

    Top Performers

 Blues

 Akira Ioane

 A replacement for All-Blacks legend Jerome Kaino, Ioane was outstanding for the Blues. The fledgling Number 8 has a growing reputation in the game, his ability with the ball in his hands a natural gift that few possess. It was his work at the breakdown which impressed the most. His role in the Blues defense was to roam behind the line of defense, and target the ball when the Brumbies attackers were isolate, and he stuck to his job, getting several turnovers at the ruck. A try in the 54th minute was a fitting reward for an excellent display by the young back-row.

 Matt Duffie

 Can’t argue with Duffie’s stats on the night, one try and one assist. His two contributions went a long way to deciding the result. He had a special moment in the game as well. Early in the game, he had a chance to score in the corner. Tom Banks covered superbly, limiting the space Duffie had to get the ball down. Duffie, a former Rugby-league player (he played 61 times for the Melbourne Storm), took inspiration from his former code, launching himself in the air towards the corner flag. Angling his body mid-air to evade the effort of Banks, he touched the ball down. It looked surely to be one of the moments of the season, but Banks’ incredible tackle meant Duffie placed the ball on the line. No reward for his athleticism and bravery, but it was a special moment, one which I’m sure even some Brumbies fans enjoyed.

 Brumbies

 Andrew Smith

 To keep with the defensive theme, Andrew Smith put in titanic display in the midfield against the Blues. Playing in some ways out of position, Smith certainly more of an outside-centre than inside-centre, he defended magnificently. Especially when you consider the opposition. Love him or hate him, Sonny-Bill Williams remains one of the best players in the word on his day, and Smith shut him down for the entire game. Williams is frightening for oppositions when he takes the ball to the line, his offloading ability means you can’t really commit too many tacklers to him. Smith didn’t need any help. When Williams ran down his channel, Smith set his feet, and chopped him low. Nullifying one of the Blues biggest threats was always going to be important in the game, and Smith’s performance meant Sonny-Bill wasn’t much of a factor.

  Tom Banks

 Banks has impressed early in his Brumbies career, doing all the little things right. Recalled to the starting XV at full-back, after an incredible performance for Uni-Norths in the John I Dent Cup, Banks played an assured game at 15. He looked comfortable under the high ball, kicked well, and put in some good hits when covering in defense. Brumbies fans got glimpses of Banks’ pace too. One moment sticks out early in the game, when Banks tore the Blues apart with his exceptional speed. The Brumbies couldn’t convert off that bit of magic from Banks but there was definitely a lot he can take from the game.

 Where the game was decided

 Taking your chances is critical. This is the highest level of professional club rugby on the planet, and you rarely get away with not capitalizing on chances when you get them. That was really the only difference between the two sides. The Blues executed the necessary skills to score tries and the Brumbies didn’t. The Blues may not be the top side in the New Zealand conference, but make no mistake, they are a fantastic side, full of top talent. The Brumbies are one or two notches away from being one of the best teams in the competition, but those two notches make the difference. The Brumbies will feel this is a game that they let slip away from them, but will not fear any side who travels to Canberra. With finals footy looming, the Brumbies will use this bye week to correct the wrongs of these last few weeks, where they have been competitive, but not winners. A win against the Lions on the 12th of May is a must, and with the support of the Brumbies amazing fans, they will look to get their season back on track.

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Analysis Piece

 Hurricanes vs Brumbies

 The Brumbies were beaten 56-21 by the Hurricanes in their Round 9 fixture in Wellington. Here we analyse the finer details which shaped the result.

 Brumbies willingness to attack

 If the Brumbies had any fear playing away to the premier team in Super Rugby, the Hurricanes, their style of play didn’t show it. They chose to play out of defense, moving the ball and offloading, even when they were on their own line. This ethos of attacking from everywhere has been evident in the past couple of rounds for the Brumbies, and is a clear departure from the traditional Brumbies style of the last five years. The Brumbies produced some scintillating rugby on the night, and are clearly building a philosophy based on fast, attacking footy. However, at times in the game, it seemed that clearing the ball and establishing field position was the better option. It’s a debate that permeates most rugby circles, territory vs possession and attack. A mixture of the two is often the best strategy, and the Brumbies certainly could have benefited from playing the corners more.

  Try of the Season

 The Brumbies desire to attack from deep produced a moment that will live long in the memory. A 90 metre try, that will be hard to beat as the best of the year. The Brumbies had just tied the game, Sam Carter scoring the visitors’ second try. Off the kick-off, the ball wash flashed left to Aidan Toua, an exit play designed to get the left footer on the ball to clear down the field.  The full-back instead dummied, and offloaded to Rory Arnold who picked a nice line and exploited a gap in the Hurricanes defense. The towering Wallaby then flipped the ball to Andrew Smith, and the Brumbies were away. Simple, but well executed hands from Smith, Joe Powell and Scott Fardy gave star centre Tevita Kuridrani room to run, as they crossed into the home-side’s half. Kuridrani was ran down, but had the awareness to pass to Fardy, who then shuffled the pill to Toua. Two quick offloads by Brumbies put the ball back in Powell’s hands. The Scrum-Half burned full-back Jordie Barrett, and finished off an astonishing try.

    Top Performers

 Hurricanes

 Vince Aso

 The Brumbies struggled to contain Aso throughout the game, his pace and elusiveness clear to see, particularly for his first and second try. A hat-trick of scores in the end for the Hurricanes centre, his recent play putting him firmly in the discussion for All Black selection with the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand just around the corner.

 Beauden Barret

 This game was somewhat of a showcase for Barrett. He displayed his entire bag of tricks against the Brumbies; expert game control, pin-point cross kicks, and exceptional pace with ball in hand. Not that he needed to remind anyone just what he’s capable of. He is, without a doubt, the best player in World Rugby, and by a considerable margin. If he continues on his current trajectory, we may be looking at one of the best to ever play the sport.

 Brumbies

 Joe Powell

 The young scrum half was excellent again for the Brumbies, all be it in a heavy loss. In his other outstanding performances this season, it has been his basics and maturity which have impressed. Against the Hurricanes, Powell showed that he can be effective in other facets of play, particularly with his running game. If Powell can consistently add this element to his play, he will be hard to ignore when Michael Cheika is picking his Wallabies squad.

 Chris Alcock

 Another Brumbies player who deserves national recognition. In an up and down season for the Brumbies, Alcock has been consistently a top performer. It can be difficult to pinpoint what makes him such a good player. I think it’s how relentless he is in his work rate. He plays hard every minute he’s on the field. Alcock is the type of player oppositions hate to come up against. He carries the ball well, puts in crunching tackles and battles in the breakdown. Yet again, a massive contributor for the Brumbies.

 Where the Game was Decided

 The Brumbies simply were forced to defend for too long in the game. The Hurricanes controlled the ball, and the game. The Brumbies defended well at times, but pressure builds and ultimately must force a crack in the defense at some point, and the Hurricanes took their chances when those cracks emerged. The Brumbies are rebuilding, having lost a considerable number of star players in the offseason. The Hurricanes are the best side in Super Rugby, and will be favourites to win it all. There will be areas the Brumbies will look to improve, and they will fancy their chances when the Blues travel to Canberra this week.

   However, there are days when you are beaten by the better side. The Brumbies were outclassed by the Hurricanes, the score-line an accurate reflection of this. As some of the younger players develop, the Brumbies will reach that elite level. Growth is a process and the Brumbies are in the middle of that process. A win against the Blues will put the Brumbies back on track in the Australian Conference, as they hunt for a place in the Semi-Finals.

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Analysis Piece

Melbourne Rebels vs Brumbries

 The Brumbies were beaten, 19-17, at the death against a resilient Melbourne Rebels side, fighting for their Super Rugby future. Here we take a look at some of the finer details, standout performances and flaws in the Brumbies performance which contributed to the result.

 Playing to Strengths

 The Brumbies had one clear advantage against the Rebels. They were dominant up front. At set piece time, for the majority of the game, the Brumbies had the upperhand. However, the visitors seemed reluctant to capitalize on this advantage. When the Brumbies kept it tight in open play, and bullied the Rebels, they made yards and forced penalties. At the maul, they shoved the Melbourne side back with ease, however again, they didn’t go back to it enough, which was definitely a let off for the Rebels.

 Earning the right to go wide

 The Brumbies in their dominant win against the Reds, showed the attacking flair we all wanted to see. Against the Rebels, we saw some flashes of this, particulary for Henry Speights first try. However, at times during the game, the Brumbies were shifting the ball to the flanks too early. There is a saying in Rugby, you have to earn the right to go wide. In order to create space for backs to flourish, you have to create either overlaps outside, or gaps inside. You create these attacking spaces by punching holes in the defence with hard, direct ball carrying. When the Brumbies did build the phases with north/south running, they were electric. When they didn’t, the Rebels were able to defend easily.

 Top Performers

 Melbourne Rebels

 Colby Fainga’a

 The former Brumbies back-row was outstanding on the night. A constant thorne in the Brumbies side, the loose-forward caused havoc at the breakdown. His yellow card aside, it was a great performance; a big contributor in the Rebels victory.

 Reece Hodge

 It’s not always glamourous, and we prefer as Rugby supporters to watch full-backs counter attack with ball in hand, but Reece Hodge’s performace from the boot against the Brumbies

    was magnificent, both off the tee and out of hand. Showing nerves of steel, he kicked the winning points for his side. At only 22 years of age, Australian Rugby may have found a genuine superstar in Hodge.

 Brumbies

 Henry Speight

 We have our own superstar here in the ACT. Another stellar performance from Henry Speight. Two tries, a constant threat, and his work around the park, in defence and at the ruck was exemplary again. Personal performance will no doubt be little consolation to Speight, as the Brumbies couldn’t get the win, but individually, he should be proud of another outstanding display.

 Jarrad Butler

 The Brumbies Number 8 did a bit of everything against the Rebels. His basics were spot on, working well on the ground and putting in good tackles. He showed some magic with ball in hand also, particular for the Brumbies opening try. Butler dummied and went, turned on the gas then released speight down the wing for the try. Then he got on the score sheet himself. In a moment of deja-vu, the Brumbies walked the Rebels over the line at the scrum as they had done the previous round against the Reds. Butler’s control of the ball was perfect and he was rewarded with the honour of touching down. In his first start this season, Butler showed his worth, and will be a big factor for the Brumbies in the coming rounds.

 Where the Game was Lost

 Its hard to pinpoint exactly where the Brumbies lost the game. Reece Hodges penalty stands out. After being on top at the scrum all night, the Brumbies lost concentration and gave away a penalty at a crucial time. That’s ultimately where the game was lost, however the Rebels should never have been given the opportunity to be in the game at that point. The double yellow stands out as a critical point in the game. With a two man advantage, the Brumbies could only notch up one score. This gave the Rebels confidence and belief. Their were more chances in the second period, but the Brumbies simply didn’t capitalise. A frustrating loss in many ways for the Brumbies. The Rebels deserve a lot of credit for their work at the breakdown, and their spirit and resilience for the 80 minutes. The Bumbies will feel this is a game they should have won. They will go into the next game, a tough away trip to the Hurricanes, eger to right the wrongs of Easter Saturday.

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Analysis Piece

Brumbies vs Reds

8th of April, 2017

 Game Plan

 The Brumbies came out looking to throw the ball around. The Brumbies, despite playing hard and tough all season, hadn’t yet shown much of their attacking ability. Against the Reds, the Brumbies clearly wanted to put on a show, and cut loose in the second-half, scoring some excellent tries and penetrating the reds defensive line at will.

 Turning Points

 Brumbies convert pressure to points

 In a first half which saw the Brumbies get the better of the play but not the scoreboard, Tevita Kuridrani’s try before half time was a crucial moment in the game. The Brumbies had chances to score but hadn’t converted. A penalty given away by former Brumbies captain Stephen Moore at the ruck, a high shot on Henry Speight, gave the home-side the opportunity to go to the corner. Off the lineout, they spun the ball to other side of the field. Rory Arnold went close, then, Kuridrani stayed low, dropped his shoulder and drove his legs to get the Brumbies first try.

 Five Minute Flurry

 With the game all square at half-time, starting well in the second-half was crucial for the Brumbies.  Five minutes after the game had resumed, the Brumbies had added two tries. Robbie Abel got the first, crashing over at the back of a maul. Then, man of the match, Aidan Toua added the second, dancing through the Reds defence from 40 metres out. Only five minutes of play, but the match was ultimately won in this period. The Reds never recovered, blitzed out of the game before they could take their first breadth of the second period.

 Top Performers

 Rory Arnold

 The man mountain stepped up against the Reds. His ball carrying set the tone for the win, giving the Brumbies the go-forward ball they needed to expose the Reds defence. A strong showing against potential Wallaby selection rival, Kane Douglas, Arnold stamped his authority all over the game, and was a massive contributor to the Brumbies big win.

 Allan Alaalatoa

 The Brumbies young international tight-head did a bit of everything during the game. He put in big hits, carried the ball well and had some beautiful offloads. The most impressive thing about Alaalatoa however is his scrummaging. He not only delivers a good platform for his backs, but he attacks opposing loose-heads, not just settling to lock-out his knees and keep the scrum stationary. He over-powers his opposition, and still has the legs to be effective around the park. Another great performance for the Brumbies prop.

 Aidan Toua

 A well-deserved man of the match nod for the Brumbies full-back. Toua was simply frightening with ball in hand. His pace and elusiveness there for everyone to see, he cut open the reds on several occasions, most notably for his try. Toua kicked well, was assured under the high-ball and was the Brumbies stand-out performer in a big win.

  Moment of the Game

 Aidan Toua’s brilliant try was amazing, and on any other night would surely be the best moment in the game. However, the Brumbies third try after half time was magnificent, truly breadth-taking, in an entirely different way. The Brumbies pack drove the Reds 15 metres back in a scrum, something you don’t see very often at this level. Jarrad Butler, on his 50th appearance for the Brumbies, controlled the ball at the back perfectly. It’s a skill that goes unnoticed, but the replacement number 8 did it as well as it can possibly be done. Butler was rewarded with the honour of touching down, but really, the entire pack owns a piece of that five points. The reaction from the crowd was a sight to behold, with every fan launching themselves off their seat in celebration. A vintage moment for this Brumbies side, it was the signature play in a great win.

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Match Report

Brumbies U20 vs QLD U20

Sunday, 26th of March 2017

 The Brumbies U20’s have fallen to the Queensland Reds U20’s, by a score line of 31-11, an unfair reflection of their competiveness in the game. Ultimately, the Reds overpowered the Brumbies, showing their class which has given them a perfect record in the competition.

 The Brumbies got off to a good start, playing confidently off the back of an impressive win against the Force in the previous round. It took them just five minutes to open the scoring, with full-back Jamie Kotz kicking a penalty goal.

 The Brumbies were dominating and went close off a wonderfully worked move off the lineout. Hooker Sam Thomas threw short to Brodie Leber, with Leber popping straight back to Thomas, releasing him down the wing. Thomas showed real pace, as the Reds struggled to cover back. It seemed he was sure to score but a foot in touch denied the Brumbies their first try.

 The Reds began to come back into the game, their forceful forward pack leading the charge. The brumbies defended admirably though, holding off the Reds phase after phase. Five metres out from the Brumbies line, the Reds swept wide looking to finally breach the Brumbies line. Sensing his team was in trouble, Brumbies new outside centre, Kuti Tahau, shot out of the line and put in the tackle of the season, a truly phenomenal hit. The Reds infringed at the breakdown, and the Brumbies managed to clear their lines.

 With five to go in the first half, the Reds eventually wore down the Brumbies. Superb hands by the reds back-line down the short side gave Poasa Naiuwatawalu the chance to coast in for the Reds first points of the day, with scrum-half Harry Nucifora adding the extras. The Brumbies, unlucky to go into half time, 7-3 down.

 The Brumbies started the second half as they had the first. A good up-and-under by Jackson Duffy was chased by centre Trai Henderson. Reds full-back Alex Horan took the high ball well, but was immediately crunched by Henderson in the tackle, and excellent counter-rucking by the exceptional pair, Angus Allen and Darcy Swaine, forced a penalty at the ruck. Kotz stepped up, and split the posts from 40 metres out, leaving the score at 7-6.

 The Reds answered back a few minutes later. Off the back of a scrum, which was beginning to get the upper hand on the Brumbies, Reds centre Dylan Riley cut a beautiful line and tore through the Brumbies defence, dotting down for the Reds second try. Nucifora kicked the conversion, extending the visitors lead to 14-6

 The Brumbies were not discouraged, dominating the ball and territory after the score. Pressure from the home-side forced a penalty at the ruck. The Brumbies chose not to take the three points and went to the corner. Confusion at the lineout seemed to break down the move, with the Reds tapping back inside their own try line. It appeared that the Reds would simply touch down and give the Brumbies a five metre scrum, but the ball was spilled, and substitute David Veryne was on hand to score for the Brumbies. Kotz misses the extras, the score now 14-11.

 The Reds didn’t panic, and showed why they had gone undefeated in the competition. First, they kicked a penalty, out-half Hamish Stewart taking the kicking duties from replaced half-back partner Nucifora. Moments after, the Reds pulled away, Stewart again the man involved. The talented 10 picked up a loose ball inside the Brumbies 22, showed good feet and crossed the line. Stewart converted his own try, leaving the Brumbies 13 points behind, the score 24-11.

 The Reds put the game to bed with five minutes remaining. The Reds backline passed the ball wide and got their lightning winger, Will Eadie, in space. The speedster did the rest, burning the Brumbies defence to score in the corner. Stewart nailed the conversion, and the Reds were now home and dry. The score now 31-11, which is how it finished.

 Another tough loss for the Brumbies, in a game where they gave it their all. The Brumbies finish their season, with just one win from four games. Despite their record, the Brumbies were excellent at times, and truly could have won every game they played. With many players returning next year, the future of the Brumbies U20’s is bright.

  Scores

 Reds

Tries: Poasa Naiuwatawalu, Dylan Riley, Hamish Stewart, Will Eadie

Conversions: Harry Nucifora 2, Hamish Stewart 2

Pen: Hamish Stewart

 Brumbies

Try: David Verryne

Pen: Jamie Kotz 2

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Analysis Piece

Brumbies vs highlanders

25th march 2017

 The Plus500 Brumbies have come agonisingly close to claiming a third win on the trot against the Highlanders, ultimately falling the wrong side of an 18-13 score line. Here, we focus on some of the finer details which shaped the outcome.

 Game Plan

 Coming off a heavy loss last week, the Highlanders clearly were looking to correct certain issues that contributed to their defeat. Against the Hurricanes, the Otago side gave up far too many yards after contact. Instead of chopping low, and stopping runners at the gain-line, they tended to hit high, soaking the pressure. When you allow these metres to be gained, your defensive line becomes disjointed, leaving holes for attackers to exploit, which the Hurricanes ultimately did. This week was a different story. The highlanders shot out of the line and put in clean, first up tackles, which often stifled the Brumbies, as the home-side struggled to get good go forward ball. A big improvement from last week.

 Another issue the Highlanders had in their previous fixture was dealing with high-balls, a change in both wing positions for the round 5 clash a reflection of this. The Brumbies looked to exploit this hole in the Highlanders team, often electing to box-kick from the base with Joe Powell. The Brumbies then looked to chase hard, but not contest, choosing instead to surround the receiver and target the ball at the breakdown. The home-side got some good return from this tactic, either winning back possession or slowing the Highlanders down. It also forced the visitors dangerous back-line to attack from deep, a huge factor in why the Brumbies came so close to victory.

 Turning Points

 Straight off the training ground

 The game’s first try came off the back of a beautifully worked set piece, man of the match Chris Alcock scoring in the corner. The move, exposed the Highlanders eagerness to get off the line and pressure the Brumbies midfield runners. Alcock seemed like he was going to simply rip the ball and pop it off to Powell. Instead, he faked and turned the corner, giving the Brumbies a two-on-one down the wing. Alcock then dummied fly-half Fletcher Smith, and showed great pace to finish off a well thought out move.

 Gutsy decision

 In what appears to be a trend this season, the Brumbies unfortunately conceded just before half-time. Highlanders captain Ben Smith, on two occasions, turned down kickable penalties inside the Brumbies 22. With the score at 10-0, three points from the tee appeared to be the safer option going into the break. Smith’s brave captaincy paid off eventually, a wonderfully worked set play off a scrum put debutant Patelesio Tomkinson in for the try.

 Charge Down

 The Brumbies had a slender lead but control of possession on their half-way line, late in the game. Looking to pin the Highlanders back, the ball was flashed to Godwin, who put the ball to boot. His effort was charged down, and substitute prop Aki Seiuli scooped up the loose-ball. The Highlanders peppered the Brumbies line, with the Brumbies putting in some incredible hits in defence. However, the Brumbies couldn’t hold out, Seuli, with the help of his teammates, crashed over for what proved to be the winning score.

 Top Performers

 Brumbies Back-Row

 Chris Alcock was given the honour of man of the match, but really the back-row as a unit were all outstanding at different points. Jordan Smiler didn’t disappoint on a night where he reached 50 caps for the Brumbies. His work-rate in defence was unsurpassed, and he was a constant threat at the break-down. Scott Fardy added further pressure at ruck-time, and was a thorn in the Highlanders side at every lineout. Alcock was simply everywhere. A comprehensive open-side flanker performance. He made important tackles, contributed at ruck time alongside his back-row partners and produced a special moment to score the Brumbies only try.

 Henry Speight

 The Brumbies star man showed up again. In many respects, Speight is one of the most unique players in the world. His ferocity and aggression in the tackle and at the ruck is almost unparalleled by anyone who plays his position in world rugby, and it was on display against the Highlanders. Speight was also a constant threat in attack, coming off his wing and carrying through the middle if the ball failed to find him on the edge.  

 Where the game was won

 On a night where both teams could claim they deserved the win, it was the dying minutes which proved crucial. The Brumbies had two opportunities to score inside the Highlanders five metre line. The home side battered the Highlanders defensive front, but were unable to breach, and the Highlanders survived. The final sequence, a maul deep in enemy territory, gave the Brumbies what appeared to be the perfect chance to score the try they so needed. The set up at the maul was good, the Brumbies forwards tight and low, with the ball secure at the back. Brumbies back-line players added their weight, joining the maul at the back, and it looked for all money that they would go over. Highlanders players were doing everything they could to stop the Brumbies. In fact, they were lucky a few times to not give away a penalty. Possible infringements aside, the Highlanders held firm, holding up the Brumbies and winning a scrum, which ended the game. A heart-braking end, the Brumbies will feel they should have come away with victory for their fans, who were magnificent on the night.

 In two weeks, the Brumbies will have another home fixture, this time against The Reds. The Brumbies will look to bounce back after this tough loss, confident in the fact that they probably deserved to win.

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Match Report

Brumbies U20 vs Western Force U20

Sunday, 19th March 2017

 The Brumbies U20 have claimed a well-deserved victory in the fourth round of the 2017 Super U20 championship, beating the Western Force U20’s 35-17.

 A superb kicking display by full-back Jamie Kotz and two tries by Brodie Leber inspired the Brumbies win.

 A nervous start by the Brumbies meant the Force controlled the early moments of the game. Deep in their own 22, the Brumbies decided to try and play out. Good defence from the visitors forced a knock on, and from the resulting scrum, the Force scored, winger Trey Moloney going over off a simple, first phase strike move. The Conversion followed, giving the Perth side an early 7-0 lead.

 The Brumbies responded, as they had done throughout the tournament. Good work from the pack gave the Brumbies good field position, and after a strong carry from winger Kuti Tahau, Brodie Leber spotted a hole in the Force defence, worked his feet beautifully, and dotted down. Fullback Jamie Kotz added the extras to tie the game.

 On the 20-minute mark, the Brumbies took the lead. Captain Ryan Lonergan scooped up a loose ball and advanced into the visitors’ half. The force then conceded a penalty under pressure, which Kotz duly converted into three points.

 A tense period followed with neither side able to establish dominance. Off a lineout on the half-way line, the Brumbies moved the ball the width off the field. A good pass from inside-centre Trai Henderson released Kotz, and a good kick and chase by the full-back forced an error by opposite number, Clay Uyen, and the Brumbies were awarded a five-metre scrum. The Force defended the Brumbies attempts to score effectively, however their indiscipline at the ruck proved costly, a penalty given to the home-team straight in front of goal. Stand out performer Kotz converted the opportunity, meaning the score was now 13-7 to the Brumbies. That was how it remained when the half-time whistle was blown.

 The Force came out in the second-half with a point to prove, after a disappointing first forty littered with handling errors and set piece struggles. Powerful centre Kitione Nairubi broke the Brumbies defensive line and seemed certain to score. Somehow, the Brumbies brought him down, and won a penalty from the ruck.

 The intensity of the game ramped from then. Hits flew in as tempers flared, with both sides desperate to get their first win of the season.

 The Brumbies were playing their hearts out. Finally, they got some reward for their effort. Another penalty conceded by the visitors, this time for going off their feet, gave Kotz the chance to put the Brumbies up by more than one score. With pressure on, and the kick by no means a formality, Kotz delivered, splitting the posts from the tee. The score, 16-7 to the Brumbies.

 The Brumbies were not done. Brilliant defence by the home side forced a drop-ball by the visitors. Leber, the Brumbies star number eight, who is also a talented sevens player, picked the ball up off the floor and out-paced the Force defence to score in the corner.  Kotz was unable to convert, leaving the score at 21-7.

 With time running out, Brumbies loose-head Charlie Hancock snuck over to finish the Force. Hancock was the Brumbies unsung hero of the day. His performance in the scrum, against the Force’s highly rated tight-head Shambeckler Vui was phenomenal, not giving an inch for the entire game. Kotz nailed the conversion to extend the lead to 28-7.

 The full-back’s day was not over just yet either. From the kick off, Tahau beat his man, and broke out of his 22, showing great vision to find Kotz. The speedster pinned his ears and avoided the covering defenders to cap off a great performance by crossing the line. He added the extras, the final score, 35-7.

 The scores

 Western Force U20

 Try – Trey Moloney

Conversion – Anthony Hondros

 Brumbies U20

 Tries – Brodie Leber 2, Charlie Hancock, Jamie Kotz

Conversions – Jamie Kotz 3

Penalty Goals – Jamie Kotz 3

[brumbiescoverage17-blog]

Analysis Piece

Brumbies vs Force

 The Plus500 Brumbies got their first win of the season in a hard fought win against the Western Force. Here we take a closer look at the key moments and performances that shaped the score-line.

 Attacking shape

 Looking to shift the powerful western force pack around the park, the Brumbies attacked with pace and direction when they had ball in hand. Getting runners around the corner off nine and ten, the Brumbies clearly planned to attack the force through the middle. Tactically, this was key to brumbies success as they were able to avoid the Force’s strong interior defence.  Once they had the Force going in reverse, the backs struck with intent. In a tense game, the brumbies exciting young back line had limited opportunities to shift the ball, but when they did, their pace and power were clear to see.

 Turning Points

 A couple of key plays stand out in the game. The first big moment of the night came early when the Force had the Brumbies on the ropes. A series of strong carries, particularly by Perth centre Billy Meakes, gave in-form winger Chance Peni the opportunity to score in the corner. It looked for all money that the imposing league-convert had given the visitors the lead. However, Brumbies full back Aidan Toua managed to hold him down, forcing the winger into a double movement. With the Force’s confidence high coming into the game, an early five-pointer might have been a game changer.  

 With a 10-0 lead seemingly secured, tries coming from Henry Speight and exciting young fly-half Wharenui Hawera, the Brumbies had good field position with the clock winding down on the first-half. Then, after Brumbies back-rower Jordan Smiler was penalised at the break-down, Force fly-half Jono Lance produced a touch of magic off the boot, giving the Perth side a five metre line-out. The force set up the maul, and drove the Brumbies over, bringing the visitors back into the game.

 The games crucial moment came late in the second period, the Brumbies needing a try to get their first win of the season. As Joe Powell was delivering the ball to the waiting trio of forwards in mid-field, Force lock Ross Haylett-Petty shouldered the young scrum-half, late and high. Lucky to only receive yellow, Haylett-Petty could only watch on as the Brumbies scored twice with the Force a player down, the first coming from former Force star Kyle Godwin, and the second coming from the lineout, courtesy of replacement hooker Robbie Abel.

Top Performers

 Henry Speight

A complete performance from the fan favourite. With the game turning scrappy for periods of time, Speight ran his socks off looking for work. Making tackles, chasing down kicks, his presence was felt all over the field. A brilliantly taken try capped a man of the match performance for the Brumbies star winger.

 Allan Alaalatoa

 Dominant from the first whistle, until he excited the field, Alaalatoa proved why he was a deserving Wallaby last year. Against an experienced loose-head in Pek Cowan, the young prop shined, winning penalty after penalty, alongside veterans Josh Mann-Rea and Ben Alexander.

  Joe Powell

 A scrum-half’s impact on a game can often go unnoticed if they aren’t making line breaks or throwing out the back door flicks. Joe Powell was outstanding tonight, because he executed his role. Clearly growing in confidence and stature, Powell marshalled his forwards brilliantly, delivering inch perfect passes consistently for the 80 minutes. Cool, calm and collected, Joe Powell delivered an understated, first class performance

 Where the game was won

 The game, as it often is, was won upfront. The Brumbies pack dominated throughout the game, proving too strong for the visitors. In the first half, the scrum took centre stage. Led by Alaalatoa, the Brumbies eight seemed to walk the force back in every scrum. Then, in the second half, when the Brumbies needed a try to win, the pack delivered, coming close from the maul with Godwin finishing. At the death, the pack sealed the win, with Robbie Abel crashing over. With a pack in form, and an exciting back-line primed to rip opposing defences apart, the Brumbies will go into their next game against the Waratahs with renewed confidence and belief.

[brumbiescoverage17-blog]

Match report

NSW Waratahs Gen Blue vs Brumbies Colts

Saturday, March 11th, 2017

 The Brumbies U20’s have fallen short once again in their third round fixture of this year’s 2017 Super U20 Championship. In a back and forth contest, where both sides led for periods of the game, the Brumbies ultimately couldn’t quite claim the victory, going down by a scoreline of 35-25.

 The Brumbies got off to a flyer, scoring from their first possession. A secure lineout and strong drive forced the Brumbies into the Waratahs’ 22. Then, the ball was whipped wide, where fly-half Liam Mosely took on the ‘Tahs’ defence, managing to get over the line.

 Mosely was unable to convert his own try. From the proceeding kick off, the Waratahs won back the ball, worked the phases and forced a penalty, which (insert name) turned into the home sides first three points.

 This didn’t stop the Brumbies flow however. The visiting side, keen to right the wrongs from their loss last week, played with aggression and confidence. A strong carry from blindside Justin Sikimeti gave the Brumbies go forward ball. A great cut-out pass by Sikimeti’s flanker partner, Angus Allen, gave Lenny Ikitau the space to deliver a perfectly timed ball to winger, Kuti Tahau, who finished off the silky move. Mosely went close from the tee, but ultimately couldn’t convert.

 Tails up, and well in control of the game, the Brumbies added a penalty, this time from the boot of scrum half Ryan Lonergan, leaving the score at 13-3 in favour of the Brumbies.

 The Brumbies continued to apply pressure. Camped on the home sides line, they looked certain to add their third try. A loose pass, and a hack down field by the ‘Tahs put the Brumbies under pressure. The Waratahs won the ball, and from a well-placed chip, Esera Chee-Kam was able to gather and offload to his supporting teammate James Ramm, leaving the Waratahs just three points behind the dominant Brumbies.

 The Waratahs controlled the ball for the next period, peppering the Brumbies line. Finally, the Brumbies resilient defence was broken, with the Waratahs number 8, Max Girdler, crashing over to give the home-side the lead. The conversion followed, putting the Waratahs on top, !7-13.

 The Brumbies were the better side in the first half, playing all the good rugby, yet somehow they found themselves behind on the scoreline. The visitors had only a few moments to respond before half time, and respond they did. The ball moved left from midfield, about 40m from the Waratahs line, the Brumbies in possession. Hooker Sam Thomas took the ball on and delayed his pass just long enough to release winger Jamie Kotz. Then, with beautiful hands and perfect running lines, the Brumbies shifted the ball the width of the field, Ikitau showing great determination to score, putting the Brumbies back in front.

 That lead was short lived however. Indiscipline at the ruck gave the Waratahs the chance to go to the corner. From the resulting lineout, a questionable decision to not penalise the Waratahs for crossing, meant the Waratahs scored in the corner, dangerous centre Chee-Kam touching down. After the conversion was missed, the score was 22-18 to the Waratahs.

 The waratahs added another try soon after. Excellent play by their backs broke the Brumbies defensive line. After making their way into the Brumbies 22, the Waratahs forced a penalty. Scrum Half Theo Strang took a quick tap, and went close. From the ruck, the Waratahs forced their way over, and after the conversion, extended their lead to 11 points.

 The Brumbies attitude was clear, refusing to give up. Led by inspirational captain Darcy Swaine and the exceptional Sikimeti, the visitors went back at the Waratahs. Waratahs loose-head, Harry Johnson-Holmes, was sent to the bin for cynically slowing down Brumbies ball at the ruck. With a player advantage, deep in enemy territory, the Brumbies struck, with ever-present number eight Brodie Leber dotting down from close-range. Lonergan added the extras, leaving the Brumbies with hope of a legendary comeback. The score-line sat at 29-25, with time running out.

 The aggression from both sides in the closing moments was incredible. Neither side willing to give an inch, hits flew in from all angles. The Brumbies threw everything they had at the Waratahs, but they fell short, eventually conceding a try in the dying moments, Girdler sealing the win for the home side. The final score, from Vikings Park, Wollongong, 36-25.

[brumbiescoverage17-blog]

Brummies Colts travel to Wollongong today looking to get their first win in the 2017 Super U20′s Championship against the NSW Gen Blue U20′s. I will be posting a match report and comments tomorrow. #rugby #brumbies #waratahs