Brumbies Out Muscle The Rebels.

Brumbies Out Muscle The Rebels.

Brumbies captain Stephen Moore had a grip on the Rebels all night.

By Mark Humphrey.

Melbourne, Vic/Aus. 28^th February 2015. The ACT Brumbies have out muscled the Rabo Direct Rebels to win 20-15 in a tight game that started in warm conditions only to see the rain fall for the entire 2^nd half. The Brumbies managed to maul 2 of their tries over the line with sheer pack strength in an awesome display of strength.

The game started with both teams having a win each. The Brumbies held down 3^rd while the Rabo Direct Rebels sat in 8^th. Head to head was 6-2 to the Brumbies but the Rebels picked up a win last time out beating the Brumbies 34-24 at AAMI Stadium last season.

Rebels started the game with a 12 set piece dominating the play and looking like business. Scrumhalf Nic Stirzaker was back from suspension and looked lively early setting up the forward structure and feeding off intelligently to his running teammates. Unfortunately for the Rebels they turned over the ball which would set the trend for the night.

5.30 into the game and Rebels Fullback Mike Harris had a penalty shot from just inside his half. A missed attempt gave the ball over to the Brumbies who managed to set up a number of solid drives inside the first 10 minutes. A successful penalty conversion by the Brumbies inside Centre Christian Lealiifano from 30 out gave first blood to the Brumbies. Brumbies led it 3-0 with 13 gone in the game.

Consecutive penalties to the Rabo Direct Rebels had Harris squaring the ledger from 30 out with the score tied at 3 apiece. Rebels seemed to get on a roll and set up a couple of positive attacking drives only to make crucial passing errors that resulted in turnovers. One drive in particular hovering around the 15 metre mark could have resulted in a Rebels try had the pass been affective.

With 20 gone in the first half the Brumbies had set up inside their 15 with a heavy pack push that seemed to overpower the Rebels pack. Brumbies Right Flanker Jarrod Butler feed the ball out from behind the push to a running Tevita Kuridrani for the Brumbies first try of the night. Brumbies led it 10-3 with 22 gone in the match.

2 minutes later Tom English wrong footed a couple of Brumbies defenders to run in a half track try only to see the ball recalled for a Rebel knock-on. Brumbies started a drive from the turnover which resulted in a successful penalty conversion by Lealiifano some 4 minutes later. The Brumbies stretched their lead over the Rebels 13-3.

32 gone and the Rebels Mike Harris had a solid drive down the line. Stirzaker who was having a solid half flicked the ball out to Luke Jones who went over. Great defence by the Brumbies had Jones unable to get the ball down with Jones getting the blood bin rule. Rebels had another chance moments later with the feed 5 out from the line only to give up a penalty for collapsing the scrum. Rebels throughout the match gave up penalties at crucial times in attack which didn’t help their cause.

After a number of penalty plays to both teams the Rebels Mike Harris found himself having a shot from 40 out. Harris nailed the shoot to have the Rebels trailing 13-6 with half time approaching.

Siren to end the first half had the Brumbies holding a 13-6 lead. For the visitors Nic White was controlling their drives and was supported well by Lealiifano, Butler and captain Moore. Stirzaker had started well for the Rebels but faded out towards the end of the half. McMahon was in everything as was Jones and English. Jack Debreczeni was finding the going tough in the premier league and Mitch Inman was unusually quiet.

2^nd half action was a lack lustre affair with both sides turning over the ball. Rain had started to fall during the break and didn’t let up for the second half which added to the frustration of the players.

The Rebels worked the ball to within 5 of their try line only to see the Brumbies strip the ball and go on the counter attack. For the next 10 minutes the ball would be worked from end to end with neither side giving an advantage until the Rebels picked up a penalty in front of the sticks. Harris made no mistake and converted to have the Rebels trailing 13-9. The Brumbies had looked in control all game but now found themselves less than a try in front. Unbelievably the Rabo Direct Rebels were still in the game.

3 minutes later and the Brumbies had their 2^nd try courtesy of Jarrod Butler who followed the Brumbies pack over the line. Lealiifano converted to have the Brumbies leading 20-9 with 60 gone in the match. Harris followed up for the Rebels with a successful conversion minutes later to reduce the gap by 3.

65 gone and the Brumbies were at it again with a mauling pack driving over the line to have Butler scoring his 2^nd try of the night. A video review showed Butler dropping the ball just centremetres from the grass to deny the Brumbies their 3^rd try.

Into the last 10 and the Rabo Direct Rebels subbed in Luke Burgess who immediately lifted the tempo of the game. Even though the Rebels had been out muscled for most of the night they were still in the game with 10 to play. Rebels sub Ben Whittaker made his first appearance for the Rebels and joined in with Burgess in lifting the tempo. A yellow card to the Brumbies Sam Carter had Harris converting the penalty from in front of the sticks. Unbelievably the Rebels were a try away from squaring up the match and definitely had the momentum. The Brumbies sensed the danger and were all about slowing down the match.Luke Jones had a good game for the Rebels tonight.

Siren and the Brumbies had the play. A penalty handed the ball over to the Rebels who set about trying to score their first try of the night. A 16 set phase had the Rebels just metres out when Debreczeni knocked on. Fortunately for the Rebels the ball was brought back for an earlier penalty. Burgess got the play going again and the Rebels pushed forward again with the home crowd support now at fever pitch. A dropped ball by Sean McMahon as he was driving forward ended the game with the Brumbies winning 20-15. The Rebels struggled to break open the play all night and finished the game without a try which was testament to the tight defence of the Brumbies unit. The Brumbies had play makers all over the ground with White instrumental in getting things going. The Brumbies forwards were workman like tonight and contributed heavily to both of the Brumbies tries. Lealiifano, Butler, Kuridrani, Moore and Alexander were good for the visitors. For the Rebels there was none better than Sean McMahon who battle strongly throughout the night. Stirzaker started well as did Jones and English. Higginbotham worked hard inside as did Toby Smith but in the end the Rabo Direct Rebels lacked polish and someone who could spark the team. Debreczeni struggled tonight in the heat of the contest but will no doubt bounce back.

Next week the Brumbies are at home against the Force while the Rabo Direct Rebels have the bye.

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