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Brumbies pull-off biggest Super Rugby upset so far this season with win on NZ soil
By Online Editors
The Brumbies have stunned the Chiefs 26-14, putting a week of health uncertainty behind them in an emphatic trans-Tasman Super Rugby boilover.
In a clash of two conference-leading teams, the Brumbies played one of their most compelling halves of rugby in Hamilton on Saturday to lead 19-0 at the break, before repelling the home side's threat of a comeback.
The Brumbies hadn't won in New Zealand since 2014 - and not in Hamilton since 2007 - but played inspired rugby from the outset, running in a fourth unanswered try early in the second half to go 26 points clear.
Two quickfire tries got the Chiefs back in contention with 25 minutes still to play but they couldn't cross again, handing them a first loss under new coach Warren Gatland.
Memories of last week's last-gasp home loss to the Highlanders drove the Brumbies during the final quarter, captain Allan Alaalatoa said.
"I think the boys were just holding on to that grudge from last week and how lost the game in the last two minutes," he told Sky TV.
"We definitely knew that the Chiefs would come back hard in the second half, which they did. We did really well to hold them out there."
The Canberra side's performance was all the more remarkable given a mumps outbreak that struck about 10 days ago, rendering some squad members unable to make the trans-Tasman trip.
Alaalatoa said it affected their preparations.
"But everyone that travelled was cleared, that was the most important thing. I'm just looking forward to seeing the boys who were affected back home."
Wallabies props Alaalatoa and James Slipper helped establish early control up front, along with some powerful work from young flanker Rob Valetini and centre Tevita Kuridrani.
Rookie five-eighth Noah Lolesio threw a handful of expert offloads to create space and lively fullback Tom Banks was a beneficiary with the opening try.
Quick hands from Banks set up winger Solomone Kata s oon afterwards before a try-scoring double to standout No.8 Pete Samu either side of halftime.
The first came through a dominant scrum and the second via the back-rower's athleticism, slicing past three tacklers on a 30m run.
Starved of ball, the flustered Chiefs committed basic mistakes and fell off tackles.
They began to hold possession and the Brumbies conceded a run of penalties, one of which resulted in a yellow card to Slipper for a professional foul.
Aaron Cruden and Anton Lienert-Brown crossed for tries but it didn't help the post-match mood of Chiefs captain Sam Cane, who said his team "were pretty much still on the bus" throughout the first half.
"Credit to the Brumbies side. They came here desperate with some real hunger, and right from the first whistle pretty much to the 80th, they beat us to the punch," All Blacks flanker Cane said.
"We were a little bit shellshocked and it wasn't until that 45th-50th minute that we kicked into gear, but not for long enough."
- AAP
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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