Replacement hooker Lachlan Lonergan has earned the Brumbies a last-gasp 29-23 victory over the Western Force in round one of Super Rugby Pacific at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
Force flyhalf Jake McIntyre looked to have stolen the game for the visitors with three minutes to play, but a swift move down the right wing and a perfect inside pass to Lonergan gave the Brumbies the win, a record 13th straight over the Force.
In the afternoon heat, the Force started the game the better of the two sides, former Brumby Ian Prior giving the Force an early 3-0 lead.
The Brumbies couldn’t get a foothold in the contest, but when they did get an opportunity, they took it well.
A perfectly timed pass from Irae Simone put Noah Lolesio in space, and the flyhalf got the Force to buy his dummy and sent Tom Wright over in the corner for the opening try.
Lolesio converted, and both sides added a penalty each to leave it 10-9 to the Brumbies at the break.
The Force came out firing in the second half. A searing break from Manasa Mataele carved the Brumbies open, and the visitors showed good patience to find former Brumby Toni Pulu to score in the corner.
That seemed to jolt the Brumbies into life, and moments later they were back in the lead. A signature rolling maul set up Folau Fainga’a for a signature five-pointer, Lolesio again converting.
The Brumbies went back to the maul for their third of the day, Lonergan unlucky to have a double with openside Rory Scott grabbing the try at the back of the drive.
Penalties kept the Force in touch, and disaster looked to have struck the Brumbies at the death with McIntyre’s try, but the Brumbies regrouped and found a way to win, Lonergan getting his try and it would be the winner, the final score 29-23.
Brumbies 29 (10): (T: Wright, Fainga’a, Scott, L.Lonergan; P: Lolesio; C: Lolesio 3) defeat Western Force 23 (9): (T: Pulu, McIntyre; C: Prior, McIntyre; P: Prior 3)
