The Brumbies have taken a 27-20 victory over the NSW Waratahs in round three of Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific at GIO Stadium.
Another standout performance from Rob Valetini and a superb second half try from Irae Simone was enough to hold off a much improved NSW outfit on a wet night at the Brumbies fortress.
The Brumbies will feel they could have been more comfortable in the closing moments, having had many more chances to cross the whitewash, but victory to remain undefeated in 2022 will please head coach Dan McKellar and his charges.
Valetini has begun 2022 as he finished 2021, and bagged his second try of the season inside five minutes to open the scoring.
Lolesio's conversion, and penalty goal in the 12th minute made is 10-0 before the Brumbies had broken a sweat, the pack dominating at set-piece.
The Waratahs held in however, and slowly clawed their way back into the game, kicking a pair of penalties through the impressive Ben Donaldson.
10-6 wasn't a fair reflection of the 40 minutes, but the Brumbies would add a second try with three minutes to play in the first half, lock Nick Frost crossing for his first Brumbies try.
Lolesio's conversion heading into the break made it 17-6.
Simone's try looked to be the killer blow, but the Waratahs hung tough and got back into the contest through Angus Bell and Will Harris, though a Lolesio penalty in between kept the Brumbies seven points clear.
Through hard defence and a couple key turnovers from replacement backrow Luke Reimer, the Brumbies maintained their advantage, coming away with a 27-20 victory.
Brumbies 27 (17) (T: Valetini, Frost, Simone; C: Lolesio 3; P: Lolesio 2) def NSW Waratahs 20 (6) (T: Bell, Harris; C: Donaldson 2; P: Donaldson 2)
