The CA Brumbies2008 unbeaten run at Canberra Stadium has ended on the back of a 33-15 loss to the Hurricanes in their Investec Super 14 Week Four match tonight.
The CA Brumbies, who had won their last six home matches, trailed 7-3 at the break before the Hurricanes turned on four second half tries to take the bonus-point result.
The home side started the match well and raised the crowd of 14,308 to their feet with tries to Julian Salvi and Tyrone Smith but was unable to match the hard edge of the Wellington side at the breakdown.
CA Brumbies Head Coach Laurie Fisher said the Hurricanes ability to take advantage of turnover possession was a difference between the two sides.
“We need to have a look at how tough we are at the ball on the ground and look at the level of contest at that part of the game,” he said.
“It was a stop-start affair and the mistakes that they forced hurt us.
“We forced a few offloads and got untidy because we struggled to recycle. I think the boys felt under pressure to force the pass and a couple of loose balls and it was away. At 14-8 we were right in the game, but they capitalised on some loose play from us.
“We need to train hard, recover well and turn up with a better performance next weekend [against the Cheetahs].”
As expected, the back row match-up provided a highlight with the All Black trio of Rodney So’oialo, Jerry Collins and dual try-scorer Chris Masoe going toe to toe with their CA Brumbies counterparts George Smith, man-of-the-match Mitchell Chapman and Stephen Hoiles, who was forced to spend 10 minutes on the sideline after earning the ire of referee Willie Roos midway through the second term.
CA Brumbies fullback Mark Gerrard kick-started the scoring with an early penalty goal before Hurricanes winger Shannon Paku finished off some slick interchange passing down the left flank to score eight minutes prior to the break.
Hurricanes hooker Andrew Hore burrowed across the line to extend the lead to 14-3 in the 55th minute before a series of replacements ignited a CA Brumbies response just two minutes later.
The fresh legs of reserve scrumhalf Josh Holmes exploited some threadbare post defence down the left-hand blindside before linking with fellow replacement Julian Salvi, who crashed over for his second try in as many weeks.
The comeback was short lived with the visitors pouring on three tries in ten minutes through Masoe’s double and one to Hosea Gear.
The Canberra side’s situation was compounded when winger Francis Fainifo was denied a try to with 10 minutes remaining after he was ruled to have lost the ball while grounding it.
However, the CA Brumbies managed some consolation when Hoiles drew two defenders before delivering a well-timed short pass for Tyrone Smith to cross untouched in the 76th minute.
The CA Brumbies will face the Cheetahs in their Investec Super 14 Week Six match at Canberra Stadium on 21 March.
MATCH DETAILS
Hurricanes 33 (Chris Masoe 2; Shannon Paku, Andrew Hore, Hosea Gear tries; Jimmy Gopperth 3/4 conversions, 0/2 penalty goal, Willie Ripia 1/1 conversion) defeated CA Brumbies15 (Julian Salvi, Tyrone Smith tries; Mark Gerrard 1/2 conversions, 1/3 penalty goal) at Canberra Stadium, Canberra.
Referee: Willie Roos (RSA)
Half time: Hurricanes 7-3
Crowd: 14,308
CA Brumbies
1. Nic Henderson
2. Saia Faingaa
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Adam Wallace-Harrison
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Mitchell Chapman
7. George Smith (c)
8. Stephen Hoiles
9. Patrick Phibbs
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Tyrone Smith
13. Sanualio Afeaki
14. Peter Playford
15. Mark Gerrard
Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Ben Alexander
18. Peter Kimlin
19. Julian Salvi
20. Joshua Holmes
21. Matt Toomua
22. Tim Wright
Replacements
17. Ben Alexander replaced 3. Salesi Ma’afu (51st minute)
16. Huia Edmonds replaced 2. Saia Faingaa (51st minute)
20. Joshua Holmes replaced 9. Patrick Phibbs (55th minute)
19. Julian Salvi replaced 4. Adam Wallace-Harrison (55th minute)
18. Peter Kimlin replaced 5. Mark Chisholm (68th minute)
21. Matt Toomua replaced 13. Sanualio Afeaki (72nd minute)
22. Tim Wright replaced 11. Francis Fainifo (73rd minute)
Yellow Card
8. Stephen Hoiles (55th minute)
Hurricanes
1. Jacob Ellison
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Craig Clarke
5. Jason Eaton
6. Jerry Collins
7. Chris Masoe
8. Rodney So’oialo (c)
9. Piri Weepu
10. Jimmy Gopperth
11. Shannon Paku
12. Tamati Ellison
13. Conrad Smith
14. Hosea Gear
15. Cory Jane
Reserves
16. Hikawera Elliot
17. Tim Fairbrother
18. Jeremy Thrush
19. Scott Waldrom
20. Alby Mathewson
21. Willie Ripia
22. Tane Tu’ipulotu
Replacements
<Not recorded>
Yellow Card
12. Tamati Ellison (13th minute)
NEXT GAME:
Investec Super 14 Week Six
CA Brumbies v Cheetahs
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Friday, 21 March 2008
