Brumbies put boot into Canes

Brumbies put boot into Canes

18 May 2012

JON CARDINELLI writes that great goal-kicking was the difference in the Brumbies’ 37-25 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington.

How did the Hurricanes conspire to throw this match away? They scored their fourth try in the third quarter and looked to be cruising to an important win, but faded badly in the last 20 minutes and allowed the visitors to score 19 unanswered points.

It will be regarded as an ugly win for Jake White’s team even though they bagged five log points from a difficult visit to Wellington. It was also ironic that some form of kicking would propel the Brumbies to a fantastic result, as their kicking from hand was nothing short of aimless.

They controlled the earlier periods of play and shot to a 10-0 lead, but were subsequently punished for some poor tactical punts. Too often the high balls or tactical probes were too long, allowing a dangerous Hurricanes back three to collect and counter-attack with damaging results.

The Hurricanes forwards also came back strongly, and TJ Perenara scored in the 17th minute after the heavies had set a great platform. Victor Vito added the hosts’ second from a neat set-piece move, and the Hurricanes looked to have seized the initiative right before half-time.

Perenara snatched his second after the break, finishing an opportunity that was rooted again in strong forward play and poor kicking by the Brumbies.

Rookie flyhalf Zack Holmes managed to goal a penalty during this period, but the Canes kept on coming, and another strong drive from the lineout had the Brumbies defence stretched. Reserve prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen barrelled over from a subsequent surge, and at 25-16 the Canes were set for a fine finish.

But while the Canes had done well to win the battle for territory and punish Brumbies errors, they had failed to capitalise via an accurate goal-kicking performance. Following Toomaga-Allen’s try, they were nine points ahead, but wayward goal-attempts meant they had left a further nine points out on the field. It was this inaccuracy, as well as an unforgivable lapse in the last quarter, that would result in them losing the game.

The Brumbies were guilty of poor kicking out of hand, but they stuck to their tactics and began to enjoy the benefits in the dying stages. Their forwards also came back strongly, and it was some neat inter-passing between the visiting tight forwards that resulted in a try by lock Sam Carter.

They looked to have botched a scoring opportunity when they knocked on five metres out from the Canes’ tryline, but won a tighthead at the ensuing scrum. Michael Hooper swooped on the loose ball and emerged from a pile of bodies. The accurate goal-kicking boot of Holmes ensured that they made the lead five points instead of three.

The Brumbies flyhalf completed a memorable first start with a seven pointer moments later, and at 37-25, the game was over. The Canes attempted to close the gap in last 10 minutes but coughed up possession at the critical moment. In the end, a determined Brumbies defensive effort denied the Canes a losing bonus point.

The result sees the Brumbies consolidating their place at the top of the Australian conference and keeping the Reds at arm’s length. Following such a gutting loss at home, the Hurricanes should struggle to stay in the play-off race.


364 Comments

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  • 1.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:19 am

    Big effort needed today, please guys. We didn’t travel all the way across The Ditch for nothing!

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:38 am

    Go Brumbies!

    I hope Zack Holmes can cut it. He has big shows to fill.

  • 3.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:39 am

    karl lowe vs michael hooper!

  • 4.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:45 am

    the snake is not my biggest fan, and neither am i his.

    these 39 point palookas (lest we forget they stole that game against cheetahs) do not deserve to be pissing with the big dogs, but thems the breaks i guess.

    so to sum it up, if they gonna get a gimme for free it might s well be them winning in order to limit the kiwi challengers.

  • 5.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:46 am

    Well I picked the Brumbies as one of my upsets for the weekend…

  • 6.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:51 am

    Key men for Brumbies need to be stopped…Alexander ,Mowen, Hooper, Fotu Auelua who grew up in Island Bay, Wellinton. Go Hurricanes

  • 7.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:55 am

    I have my Business Day sport mag

    Eben in my face all day long, ripping his clothes off

  • 8.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:58 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-5: Me too but not as an upset. Brumbies have been playing good rugby. They should beat the Hurricanes.

  • 9.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 08:59 am

    Brumbies will suffer without Lilly.

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:00 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-7: lol is he on the cover?

  • 11.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:01 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-10:

    Indeed!

  • 12.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:02 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-8:

    Well I did not think it will be an upset but most on here is not giving them a chance.

  • 13.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:03 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-6: Moore too is having a stormer of a season.

  • 14.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:05 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-12: Yes I saw that on superbru too. The brumbies are coming back from a bye right. They still have a very strong forward pack and they are only missing Lealifiano. The rest of the backline is still class.

  • 15.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:07 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-6: Thanks for teaching Fotu how to play, mate…he sure is one helluva player!

    Just a great pity I have to work & won’t be able to watch…Sigh!

  • 16.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:07 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-13:
    Yeah…could tun into a forwards game. Moore is a key to this game too.

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:12 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-16: Brumbies have the edge in the forwards no?

  • 18.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:14 am

    @BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-15:
    The type of No8 any team would want…..exciting player

  • 19.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:14 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-18: Plus they have Ita Vaea on the bench!

  • 20.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:15 am

    This game will be an upset, whoever wins. Each would only narrowly win the 6N.

  • 21.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:16 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-17:
    yep….Hurricanes to move the ball….depends on conditions….cold and windy I suppose.

  • 22.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:25 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-21: Both are missing their star flyhalves…..it depends which team adapts better to their new 10′s.

  • 23.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:31 am

    It starts in the forwards.Which pack can secure good ball, give new tens a little more time.

  • 24.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:32 am

    Come on jaky, knock these Canes over so the Kiwis only have one team in the play-offs.

  • 25.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:33 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-23: Advantage Brumbies

  • 26.Nils: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:34 am

    @AiDoc(AiDoc)-20: 6N can’t be that bad, cmon. Both teams look clearly better than Romans and Picts only.

  • 27.grant10: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:35 am

    Why the Canes still play Super Rugby, no one will know. very overrated.

  • 28.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:36 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-25:
    yep…..Those Ab training squad players from Hurricanes need to stand up

  • 29.viewer: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:39 am

    Savea’s try last week was a thing of beauty

  • 30.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:41 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-28:

    That would require Viagra for most of the team.

  • 31.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:44 am

    TJ on Reunion was mightely concerned about the performance of NZ sides in the S15 this year. As well he should be….and the All Blacks. The green machine from Ireland is on their way…..

  • 32.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:45 am

    The Brumbies good form of late is coz they have a great coach at the helm, which makes JW the real deal after all!!

  • 33.grant10: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:48 am

    Jake White bliksems the Employment Equity, Quotas and AA for a massive Chris gayle 6!!!!!!!!

  • 34.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:48 am

    @viewer(viewer)-29: Yes! The way he accelerated past the landers’ defenders was beautiful.

    Yes Go Brumbies!

  • 35.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:49 am

    grant10 – Could you translate your comment #33 into englese please

  • 36.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:50 am

    @logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-31: Ireland and Wales are going to be a handful for Nz and Aus. I wasnt impressed with Hansen’s training squad. Is that the final trying squad or is he going to have another before the tests with different players ala Meyer?

  • 37.Puma: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:51 am

    GO JAKE’S BRUMBIES… :)

  • 38.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:53 am

    @grant10(grant100)-33: imagine if jake was given the cheetahs to coach instead of allowing naka to coast with mediocre results year in year out.

  • 39.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:55 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-36: i think that’s the one he is just going to meet with them for the next three weeks – from sunday to tuesday.

  • 40.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:56 am

    Nice Perenara. Fantasy points for me but i still want the Brumbies to win for my superbru.

  • 41.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 09:58 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-39: oh ok. So those are the players who are in contention for the Ireland series?

  • 42.grant10: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:02 am

    transformation, jake doesn’t like being told who to pick … in SA you have to pick a few quotas!

  • 43.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:07 am

    Has anyone noticed that the game started 21 points ago?

  • 44.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:07 am

    knockons ….forward passes being missed by Lawrence…a trait perhaps .

  • 45.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:08 am

    Looks like the flood gates maybe opening for the Canes!!

  • 46.viewer: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:09 am

    @32
    I beg to differ. Disingenuous Jake is assisted by men who’ve been associatef with the brumbies for years. Do you suggest he can even spot Australian talent that he knows f_uck all about & recruited them for this season

  • 47.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:09 am

    Oooo getting interesting now.

  • 48.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:10 am

    I wonder how the Useless Jake Whites team is doing???? i mean he has never achieved a thing

  • 49.grant10: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:10 am

    there must be something the in air in NZ! alll refs in NZ are k@k! and if Aussie & SA refs go there, they also make mistakes. Must be the sh!tty country having an effect on them!

  • 50.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    18 May 2012, 10:13 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-44: kia ora.. its only NZ refs that are bad, didnt you know this?

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-41: you will see a squad in the first Irish test close to that from the WC final (minus those gone overseas..e,g Thorn etc).. the young guys n the squad are there to see what the AB environment is all about… out of the new guys, only really Savea and one of the halfbacks will probably get a run..

    if NZ win the first test, then expect that one or two more may get a go..

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