Brumbies hold on

The Brumbies bounced back from last week's disappointing display in Christchurch with a 22-20 victory over the Highlanders 22-20 in Canberra.

After a powerful start from the visitors, including a try for Fetu'u Vainikolo, the home side found their rhythm and pounded the discipline out of the Otago side in the first half, taking a 17-7 half-time lead.

The Highlanders managed to build some continuity of their own early in the second half, with full-back James Wilson landing a couple of penalties to reduce arrears, but then the Brumbies found their poise again, and Stephen Hoiles crashed over for the crucial try on the hour mark.

Both sides scored early on. The Highlanders recycled several phases of possession from the kick-off, culminating in wing Fetu'u Vainikolo bursting through under the posts.

Penalties

The Brumbies replied in kind, keeping the ball through phase after phase for a more or less uninterrupted five minutes during which the Highlanders conceded no less than five free-kicks or penalties, and at at the end of which centre Anthony Faingaa took the switch off fly-half Chris Lealiifano and also burst under the poles

Ten minutes had elapsed, and we had a try apiece as a result of good controlled possession by both teams.

Unfortunately for the spectators, that was pretty much it for the first half. The Highlanders' game descended into an error-littered bog, while the home team contrived to butcher several scoring opportunities.

The Highlanders forwards also contrived to concede needless penalty after free-kick and Julian Huxley landed a penalty in the 24th minute.

But after a half-hour dominated by the patient and careful Brumby control, the ball was swung out left to Huia Edmonds, whose inexorable passage to the line was stopped only by the high arm of Hayden Triggs. Triggs saw yellow, and a penalty try was awarded. It was 17-7, a richly-deserved lead for the Brumbies.

Grunt

After the break, two penalties for offside, both a result of breaks after repeated forward grunt, were landed by James Wilson to bring the score back to 17-13 and a third penalty was tapped by Alando Soakai, only for the openside to hold on to the ball inches from the line.

The Brumbies' crucial score came on the hour, when Stephen Hoiles burst down the left to the corner, taking three defenders with him as he blundered over the line.

Back came the Highlanders, with all three loose forwards prominent as they smashed at the home defence. Stephen Setephano was expertly held up over the line by Hoiles, but from the scrum the ball went through a couple of phases and then left for prop Chris King to score. Wilson's conversion made it 22-20.

Wilson had a chance of winning it with a penalty eight minutes from time, but he pulled the kick, and then in the final minute, a scintillating break from Highlanders wing Paul Williams had he and his team into the Brumbies' 22, only for Toby Morland to knock the ball on at the base of the ruck.