The NSW Waratahs have fallen to the Brumbies at GIO Stadium this evening, as the hosts ran out 38-11 winners in Round 8.
It was a tough opening 10 minutes, with both sides exchanging blows in what were cold, slippery conditions in the nation’s capital.
Jack Dempsey thought he had the first try of the evening, but was undone with his handling over the line as the greasy conditions made things difficult.
Ryan Lonergan would soon go over for the Brumbies, after streaming through on a kick in behind the Waratahs defensive line. The energetic half’s run did start a metre or two offside, but it was overlooked in the TMO’s review.
The hosts dominated both possession and territory in the opening half, as the Waratahs kept in touch through the boot of Harrison – as he continued his accurate run of form off the kicking tee.
Tom Horton continued to impress, turning provider for Jack Dempsey who would slide over untouched for the Waratahs first try – with both sides only separated by a point as they went into half time.
The Brumbies would go over early in the second half through Samu to jump clear, as Irae Simone stretched the Waratahs defensive with a floated cut out pass.
Tom Wright would soon have a double inside ten minutes as the hosts went further ahead.
Pete Samu would soon join Wright with two tries, somehow making his way to the corner amidst pressure from several Waratahs defenders.
It would be the last of four second half tries for the Brumbies, as they ran out convincing winners.
Rob Penney’s side now set their sights on the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval in their final regular season fixture.
NSW Waratahs: (1-15) Tom Robertson, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Ned Hanigan, Rob Simmons, Lachlan Swinton, Michael Hooper, Jack Dempsey, Jake Gordon, Will Harrison, Alex Newsome, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, James Ramm, Jack Maddocks.
Reserves: (16-23) Robbie Abel, Angus Bell, Tetera Faulkner, Tom Staniforth, Hugh Sinclair, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Nick Malouf.
Tries: J. Dempsey 37
Conversions:
Penalties: W. Harrison 20, 30
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Brumbies: (1-15) James Slipper, Connal McInerney, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Murray Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Lachlan McCaffrey, Will Miller, Pete Samu, Ryan Lonergan, Bayley Kuenzle, Tom Wright, Irae Simone, Solomone Kata, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks.
Reserves: (16-23) Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack, Nic White, Len Ikitau.
Tries: R. Lonergan 15, A. Muirhead 24, P. Samu 45, T. Wright 53, T. Wright 58, P. Samu 73
Conversions: R. Lonergan 16, 47 and B. Kuenzle 54, 74
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant 1: Graham Cooper
Assistant 2: Reuben Keane
TMO: Ian Smith
Match Centre: click here
From the press conference:
"It’s must-win next week if we want to have a crack at finals.”
"The lineout didn’t function as well as we would have liked, we didn’t cover the edges as well as we should have. Next thing you know it’s 26 to zip in the second half. Pretty comprehensive." – Rob Penney
"We just gave too many penalties away, we know the Brumbies when they get down in their attacking half they come at you all day and we gave them too many opportunities.”
"When we give away that many penalties our heads start dropping and we start going elsewhere and looking to solve things individually." – Rob Simmons
The moments:
15’ | TRY Brumbies | Ryan Lonergan goes over for the hosts, despite being a metre or two offside (7-0)
18’ | PENALTY Tahs | Harrison knocks over his first of the night! (7-3)
24’ | TRY Brumbies | A cross-field kick hits Muirhead who slides over for the Brumbies second (12-3)
28’ | PENALTY Tahs | Another for Harro! (12-6)
36’ | TRY Tahs | Horton the provider! We shift wide and a couple of tackle breaks and a cheeky offload from Tom opens up the space for Jack Dempsey to slide over untouched! (12-11)
45’ | TRY Brumbies | A long ball from Simone stretches us defensively, as Samu goes over out wide before improving his position (19-11)
52’ | TRY Brumbies | Wright goes over in the corner after White hits him with a sharp pass from close quarters (26-11)
57’ | TRY Brumbies | Wright has a double as the hosts extend their lead (31-11)
71’ | TRY Brumbies | Pete Samu has a double as the Brumbies go over once more (38-11)
