Brumbies hold out for vital win

In Canberra on Friday evening, the Brumbies beat the Stormers 22-19, the difference a dropped goal by George Gregan. The Stormers paid a high price for what can euphemistically be called silliness.

Try time for the Brumbies

In fact it was ill-discipline and it cost the Stormers dearly. They played half the match with 14 players - because of high tackles.

There could be more trouble for the Stormers if the citing officer decides to have another look at some of their behaviour, with centre De Wet Barry the most likely to land in hot water.

In the first seven minutes of the match they conceded four penalties, eight in the half altogether, 15 in the match. And they lost De Wet Barry to the sin bin after three minutes, and that for his second offence.

First he tackled high and then he tripped. Later in the half, after 23 minutes, he tackled Clyde Rathbone, who seemed a target for the Stormers centre, horribly high. The offence was missed but there could well be repercussions when the citing commissioner has a look.

In the second half Werner Greeff got a yellow card for his second high tackle, as madness persisted.

Discipline apart they had no real answer to the class, skill and vision of Stephan Larkham and the hard-nosed determination of George Smith. Those two were worth gold for the Brumbies.

Larkham set up the first try when he broke going right and sent late inclusion Henari Veratau over for a try in the corner.

Barry was back and Rathbone was off.

From a line-out the Stormers charged, Quinton Davids going close, Joe van Niekerk close enough to invite the intervention of the TMO, but he was short.

From the five-metre scrum the Stormers went right and then came back left where a quick pass by Barry sent Jean de Villiers corkscrewing over for a try in the corner. Gaffie du Toit converted. 7-5 to the Stormers after 25 minutes.

The Brumbies turned a penalty into a line-out on their left. They went wide right and then wider left leaving Radike Samo to gallop over past Du Toit. Larkham converted. 12-7 to the Brumbies after 29 minutes.

A typically darting run by Breyton Paulse set up an attack which a knock-on destroyed.

Barry broke and sent Marius Joubert racing away, but Sam Norton-Knight had no difficulty in tackling him and Smith was on hand to clean up.

Joel Wilson broke past Barry and the Brumbies were attacking again. They came to their right, De Villiers came off his line to make a gap and Norton-Knight was up in the line to give Ben Batger an overlap for the try far out. Larkham converted and the Brumbies led 19-7 at the break.

Early in the second half De Villiers had what looked a simple opportunity to score a try after Barry had done well to pop the ball to him. The wing had a casual look about him till Batger sailed into him, brilliantly dislodging the ball.

The Stormers got a try of dubious quality soon afterwards. Barry broke strongly and raced towards the Brumbies' line. He had Eddie Andrews with him but opted to chip. Barry and Jeremy Paul went for the ball in the Brumbies' in-goal. Andrews put a hand on the ball, but Paul may well have had a hand on it before that. Paul pleaded with the referee to consult the TMO, but he remained unmoved. Du Toit missed the easy conversion. 19-12 to the Brumbies with half an hour to play.

The second half belonged largely to the Stormers but they managed to bumble.

Awarded a free kick inside their 22 they contrived to move over the 22 to kick the ball, giving the Brumbies a useful line-out. When Watson went off-side George Gregan aimed a drop at goal - and it soared over. 22-12.

Just after that Greeff earned his yellow card with 17 minutes to play, but the Stormers scored.

Barry grubbered down on the left. Van Niekerk put pressure and De Villiers gathered to race over for a try far out. Du Toit converted. 22-19 with 14 minutes to play.

There was no further scoring. In fact the best opportunity belonged to the Brumbies but Samo knocked on with an overlap of four on his left.

Man of the Match: It's easy really. Well as Schalk Burger played as well as George Smith played, but the Man of the Match was Stephan Larkham who contrived to do all things smoothly and well.

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Veratau, Samo, Batger
Cons: Larkham 2
DG: Gregan

For the Stormers:
Tries: De Villiers 2, Andrews
Cons: Du Toit 2

Yellow cards: De Wet Barry (Stormers, 4), Greeff (Stormers, 64)

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Joel Wilson, 12 Gene Fairbanks, 11 Lenny Beckett, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Scott Fava, 7 George Smith, 6 Owen Finegan (captain), 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Radike Samo, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Bill Young.
Replacements: 16 David Palavi, 17 Nic Henderson, 18 Alister Campbell, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 George Gregan, 21 Henari Veratau, 22 Ben Batger.

Stormers: 15 Werner Greeff, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Jean de Villiers, 10 Gaffie du Toit, 9 Neil de Kock (captain), 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Luke Watson, 5 Rob Linde, 4 Quinton Davids, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 Eddie Andrews.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Riaan Olckers, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Adri Badenhorst, 20 Bolla Conradie, 22 Chris Rossouw, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.

Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Kevin Rowe (New Zealand), Scott Young (Australia)

By Paul Dobson