The Brumbies cruised to a fourth straight Super rugby victory over the Waratahs by beating the New South Wales side 47-14 with a bonus point in Canberra on Sunday.
The match is the final Super rugby match of round 7 and could be the final match of the 2020 season as the tournament has been suspended due to New Zealand’s travel restrictions to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.
The Brumbies outscored the Waratahs by seven tries to two in the match.
The loss for the Waratahs is their fifth from six matches played this season and their only win was against the Lions in Sydney. It is also the second match in a row that the Waratahs have not scored in the second half.
The Brumbies victory is their fifth from six matches keeps them comfortably at the top of the Australian conference and have a ten point lead over their closest rivals the Rebels.
The Brumbies have also now won their last six matches against Australian conference opposition.
Although the Waratahs were well beaten they got the better start and went into the lead when Rob Simmons crossed for the first try of the match. Will Harrison converted the try giving the Sydney side a 0-7 lead.
The Brumbies soon hit back though as Solomone Kata crossed for the first of his two tries after he had joined the forwards in a maul and then broke free and managed to get the ball on the line to score. Noah Lolesio kicked the conversion to level the scores.
The Waratahs responded and took the lead back when Mark Nawaqanitawase dived over in the corner avoiding the corner flag but just managing to get the ball down. Will Harrison converted the try in the 22nd minute and that turned out to be the last points the Waratahs would score.
The Brumbies levelled the scores with another Kata try and then took the lead ahead of half time after Cadeyrn Neville scored the Canberra side’s third try.
In the second half it was all the Brumbies and they added four further tries by Joe Powell, two from Tom Wright and Tom Banks finished the scoring with a try and conversion on full time.
The Waratahs now head back to Sydney knowing that if Super rugby does resume in the coming weeks they are almost certainly out of contention for a place in the play offs. They will also be concerned over the fitness of Kurtley Beale who had to leave the field with a suspected hamstring injury.
In contrast the Brumbies are second in the overall standings but will have to find a way to keep their momentum going while super rugby is suspended.
Final Score Brumbies 47 (21) Waratahs 14(14)
Scorers
Brumbies
Tries – S.Kata 2, C.Neville, J.Powell, T.Wright 2, T.Banks
Pen –
Con -N.Lolesio 4, R.Lonergan, T.Banks
Drop –
Cards -D.Swain (67th min yellow)
Waratahs
Tries – R.Simmons, M.Nawaqanitawase
Pen –
Con – W.Harrison 2
Drop –
Cards – J.Dempsey (57th min yellow)
Match Officials
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Ref 1:Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: Brendon Pickerill
TMO :James Leckie
Teams
Brumbies
15 Tom Banks, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Will Miller, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Murray Douglas, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Connal McInerney, 1 James Slipper
Replacements :16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Tom Wright
Waratahs
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey , 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Rob Simmons (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements : 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Pat Tafa, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 James Ramm
