Highlanders (15) 26 / Brumbies (7) 20 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Brumbies at Rugby Park, Invercargill at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
The Brumbies had the majority of possession and field position but the Highlanders used their opportunities and ground out a win.
Scorers:
Highlanders: 1 Conversion & 1 Penalty Colin Slade, 2 Penalties Tony Brown, 2 Tries Jason Rutledge, 1 Try Jamie Macintosh
Brumbies: 1 Conversion & 1 Penalty & 1 Try Matt Giteau, 1 Try Andrew Smith, 1 Try Patrick Phibbs
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Mo Schwalger, 17 Halani Aulika, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Tony Brown, 22 James Paterson.
Brumbies: 15 Matt Toomua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Mark Chisholm , 4 Ben Hand , 3 Salesi Maafu, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Dan Palmer, 18 Colby Faingaa, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Franky Fainifo.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
53 The Highlanders front row is blown up again and Giteau finds touch in opposition territory. The Brumbies look for space in midfield but the ball is lost forward and the Highlanders will have another scrum.
63 Valentine tries to clear it from the maul on his own line but it is charged down by Thomson and the ball goes into touch in goal. The Brumbies look to run the ball out of their own half with Tyrone Smith making ground.
Chisholm gets over the gain line and the Brumbies crash over the 22 but they hold on to the ball on the ground and that is another turnover in the 22 for the Highlanders, impressive defence from them tonight. Brown makes a break before the ball is intercepted by Kimlin. Speight kicks upfield and Poki goes on another good run, he has had a strong game today. The Brumbies fail to roll away in the tackle on halfway. Brown slots the PENALTY from 45 metres out and the Highlanders look tough to beat from here.
Tony Brown slots another penalty
Landers 21 / 10
67 Manu loses it forward from the kick-off and the Brumbies storm forward, they will have to score soon if they are going to get back into this one. Giteau steps and almost gets through a gap but they are protecting the ball well in contact. The Highlanders go for another big counter ruck and Brown is shown a YELLOW CARD for his efforts. Could this be the crucial moment? The Brumbies drive it up from the line-out and they are just short now.
Tony Brown cops a yellow card…
Brumbies try, Smith
Landers 21 / 15
9 min to go
69 They go to Edmonds who is brought down just short, Smith steps and finds some space before crashing over for the TRY. Giteau misses another kick and this will be a very interesting last ten minutes.
My Bru looks Ok, so far… I picked the Landers by 7… the current lead is 6.
… but they are playing with 14 men… oi!
Landers hard on attack, 5m out
Try Jaimie Macintosh
This try must close it out for the Brumbies, great play by Highlanders, what a season they have.
Landrs 26 / 15
75 Smith misses the conversion but it will be really tough for the Brumbies to steal a late win now.
74 The Highlanders have it on halfway, can they hold on for the win with 14 men? They have slowed it right down as they look to wind the clock down. They are supporting the ball carrier well and Treeby hits a gap, they win quick ball now as they come up towards the 22. They go wide and Treeby straightens, a try now would be the killer blow. Mackintosh carries it up and they are just short. Lynn goes for the line but he comes up just short. They are retaining the ball well and playing the game in the right spot to hold on to the lead. Finally the pressure tells and skipper Mackintosh bashes over for the TRY, good patient stuff from the Highlanders there and they should take this one now.
Try Brumbies
Landers 26 / 20
77 The Brumbies go wide and they are brought down on the 22. Giteau bustles through a gap, apart from his goal-kicking he has been quite good tonight, they are right there and Phibbs gets over in the corner for theTRY that gives the Brumbies at least one bonus point.
Final Score: Higlanders 26 / 20 Brumbies
6-point margin
Snoek takes the Superbru honors in this game
He picked Highlanders by 6
78 Giteau misses the conversion again, the Brumbies would be leading if he had kicked everything. They carry it out of their 22 as they look to steal a famous win but the ball is lost forward in the tackle and the Highlanders have the scrum, they will want to run the game out from this position.
80 Manu cleans up some scrappy ball at the back of the scrum, they clear the ball into touch and the Highlanders have a victory that was built on a strong defensive effort. The Brumbies will be disappointed to lose a game in which they had the lion’s share of the ball and some good field position. Giteau’s wayward kicking did not help but that is their fifth consecutive loss nonetheless.
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