The Plus500 Brumbies have kicked off 2018 with a win in Japan, outlasting the home-side 32-25 in a pulsating contest in Tokyo.
The Brumbies will be extremely happy to be travelling back to the ACT with four conference table points having not been at their best for large parts of the game.
Despite maybe not playing to their full potential perhaps, the Brumbies were comfortable in victory and ran in some beautiful tries.
The Brumbies got the scoring underway after five minutes, Christian Lealiifano converting a penalty for three early points.
What followed was a period of dominance for the Sunwolves, the Japanese side showing that they will not be simply making up the numbers in 2018.
The Sunwolves are known for their clever play and ingenuity but it was their power which lead to the first try of the game, Hosea Saumaki joining the maul off his wing to sneak over with Nakamura adding the extras.
The Sunwolves continued their impressive start in the 18th minute, Timothy Lafaele going over after sustained possession.
Hayden Parker was handed the kicking duties after coming on for Robbie Robinson, and the Kiwi slotted the conversion.
The Brumbies didn’t panic however and hit back five minutes later.
Lachy McCaffrey, who had only come on to the field in the previous minute, crossed after great work from standout performer Isi Naisarani.
Lealiifano could not add the extras which left the score at 14-8 to the Sunwolves.
The Sunwolves regained their advantage five minutes later with Saumaki going over his second try.
Parker was unable to add the extras.The Brumbies just couldn’t seem to get things going, handling errors causing attacks to breakdown.
Finally, the Brumbies got their breakthrough. Ben Alexander offloaded superbly to Lealiifano and the Captain put the streaking Kyle Godwin in for the Brumbies second try.
Lealiifano added the extras. The Score, 19-15 at half-time.The Brumbies seemed to come out in the second-half with a different energy and they were able to advance the ball into the Sunwolves 22.
The move looked to be over when the Sunwolves turned the ball over, but a horrendous error by Yutaka Nagare saw the Sunwolves half-back pass the ball of his own post straight into the hands of a grateful Tevita Kuridrani who scooped up the pill and dotted down.
The Brumbies now looked to be cruising having regained the lead.
Ten minutes later fan favourite Hooker Josh Mann-Rea was the ball carrier at the back of an exquisite maul.
It’s been the Brumbies most deadly attacking weapon in previous seasons and it seems to be still firing in 2018.
Leaaliifano couldn’t convert from out-wide leaving the score at 27-19.
The Sunwolves were not done however, valiantly working their way into position to kick a penalty, with Parker splitting the posts from 40m out.
Then in the 67th minute, the Brumbies turned on the style.
Playing from inside their own territory, the Brumbies broke through Naisarani.
Now down in the opposition red-zone, its required exceptional skill from Chance Peni and the outstanding McCaffrey to put Tom Banks over in the corner.
Despite not converting the try, the Brumbies had now virtually sealed the win.
The Sunwolves added a penalty in the dying moments of the game to get a well-deserved bonus point, but it wasn’t enough and the Brumbies cruised home for a 32-25 victory.
The win will encourage the Brumbies, having showed flashed of Championship quality.
The Brumbies travel to Queensland next week to take on the Reds at Suncorp Stadium, one from one in 2018.
STATISTICS
Saturday 24 February 2018
(Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 15:15 AEST)
BRUMBIES (15) 32 (T: McCaffrey, Godwin, Kuridrani, Mann-Rea, Banks, C: Lealiifano, (2) P: Lealiifano
SUNWOLVES (19) 25 (T: Saumaki (2), Lafaele C: Parker, Nakamura P: Parker (2)
TEAM
Ben ALEXANDER ( Sione 61)
Josh MANN-REA (Abel 66)
Allan ALAALATOA (Makin 66)
Richie ARNOLD (Rory Arnold 51)
Sam CARTER
Rob VALETINI (McCaffrey 23)
Tom CUSACK
Isi NAISARANI
Joe POWELL (Lucas 66)
Christian LEALIIFANO
Chance PENI (Taliauli 78)
Kyle GODWIN
Tevita KURIDRANI
Henry SPEIGHT
Tom BANKS (Hawera 69)
