Brumbies Down But Not Out Of Finals Contention

Sun Herald

Sunday May 7, 2006

By GREG GROWDEN CANBERRA STADIUM

HIGHLANDERS 28

BRUMBIES 26

The ACT Brumbies lost their way and their first match at home this season when overwhelmed by the Highlanders, but a bonus point for a tight loss has virtually assured them of a Super 14 semi-finals berth.

Although last night's unexpected 28-26 defeat with one round to go gave the Sharks and the Bulls a slight sniff of making fourth spot, the for-and-against quotient works heavily in the Brumbies favour, and should see them hold onto the last finals position.

However, what was assumed to be a cruise into a finals berth turned into a nightmare, as the Brumbies had to await for the result of the Sharks-Stormers match in Durban in the early hours of this morning to find out whether they were safe or not. They were also waiting to hear whether their Test halfback George Gregan was to be cited by the independent commissioner over a dangerous tackle early in the second half, which saw him yellow-carded.

"We were certainly our own worst enemies tonight, because we made a lot of errors," ACT coach Laurie Fisher said.

"We dropped ball, there was a little bit of panic, and at times we struggled to get out of our quarter."

What was expected to be a comfortable victory by the Brumbies against one of the also-rans of the tournament turned into the most excruciating of experiences, as the Highlanders were outstanding most of the night and deserved to be the first visiting team to beat the Brumbies on their own home territory this season.

In a vastly improved performance from last week, when the Highlanders were well beaten by NSW, the New Zealanders were extremely impressive at their set-piece work, and matched the Brumbies in adventure and speed in attack. The Highlanders' forward play was first-class, and with their back line playing with intensity it ensured that the match swayed this way and that before a penalty in their favour in the 76th minute gave them victory.

Not surprisingly the Highlanders were ecstastic after the game, as most visiting teams leave Canberra dishevelled, and usually complaining about an enormous loss.

The Brumbies were the ones complaining, wondering how they lost their momentum when they had been on top of their game for so many weeks.

As usual, ACT scored early. But unlike so many opponents, who immediately feel overwhelmed by the immediate ACT onslaught, the Highlanders never lost their rhythm, momentum or purpose, relying on their excellent set-piece work to stay in touch, and then take the lead.

Like the Waratahs the previous week in Dunedin, who struggled appreciably against the Highlanders pack, the ACT scrum had their difficult moments trying to keep their formation.

The Highlanders scored two tries in the first half to hold a 15-14 lead.

HIGHLANDERS 28 (Carl Hayman 2, Craig Newby tries; Ben Blair 2 goals, 3 pens) beat BRUMBIES 26 (Gene Fairbanks, Matt Giteau tries; Stirling Mortlock 2 goals, 3 pens, George Gregan field goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Marius Jonker. Crowd: 19,023.

© 2006 Sun Herald

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