The Brumbies ended their two match losing streak to Johannesburg’s Lions with a 31-20 victory in Canberra at GIO Stadium.
The Lions had won their two most recent matches against the Brumbies played in Johannesburg and Canberra as well as their two most recent matches in Canberra.
The Brumbies victory over the Lions in Canberra is therefore their first over the Lions at home since 2010.
The loss for the Lions is their second in a row against all opposition as they were beaten 5-42 at home in Johannesburg last week by the Sharks.
The Brumbies were playing without thier taslisman David Pocock but secured a comfortable victory as they outscored the Lions by five tries to three.
No 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, wing Toni Pulu, centres Tevita Kuridrani and Tom Wright, and fullback Tom Banks all crossed the line for the Canberra side while Christian Lealiifano was successful with three conversions.
The Lions have now slipped to third in the South African conference after their loss to the Sharks last week and this week to the Brumbies look to be a shadow of the team that has contested the last three super rugby finals.
The Johannesburg side scored tries by Aphiwe Dyantyi, flyhalf Elton Jantjies and replacement Sylvian Mahuza. Jantjies also kicked a conversion and a penalty.
The Lions started well and took the lead with the Dyantyi try but Brumbies hit back with three tries to lead 19-8 at the break.
In the second half Jantjies reduced the points deficit when he scooped up a loose ball and ran for the line and scored the Lions second try which he then converted which meant the Lions trailed by just six points at 19-15.
However the Brumbies took control of the match with tries by Banks and then Wright within minutes of each other.
The Lions scored a consolation try when Sylvian Mahuza with 11 minutes remaining but they were unable to add any further points.
Next week the Lions play the Chiefs in Hamilton while the Brumbies travel to South Africa where they will play the Stormers in Cape Town.
Final Score Brumbies 31(19) Lions 20(8)
Scorers
Brumbies
Tries – L.McCaffrey, T.Pulu, T.Kuridrani, T.Banks,T.Wright
Pen –
Con – C.Lealiifano 3
Drop –
Cards -T.Wright (4th min yellow)
Lions
Tries – A.Dyantyi, E.Jantjies, S.Mahuza
Pen – E.Jantjies
Con – E.Jantjies
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Ref 1:Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Mike Fraser
TMO : James Leckie
Teams
Brumbies
15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Tom Wright, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Pete Samu, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Andy Muirhead
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Stephan Lewies, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Sylvian Mahuza
