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The Brumbies celebrate during the trophy presentation after winning the AU Super Rugby Grand Final between the Brumbies and the Reds at GIO Stadium on September 19, 2020 in Canberra, Australia.
the Brumbies withstood a late attack to defeat a brave
Queensland Reds 28-23 and ensures the Super Rugby AU title on Saturday, solidifying their status as the kings of Australian rugby.
The Canberra team went to halftime two points ahead and put the hammer down to stretch their lead to 28-13 before the Reds came back to establish a tense finish.
Newly formed Wallaby Noah Lolesio scored 13 points on three attempts to two from the win to deny coach Brad Thorn’s rapidly improving young Queenslanders a first win in the Australian capital since 2014.
It was the Brumbies’ third Super Rugby title, albeit a national version after the coronavirus pandemic brought international rugby to a halt, following their triumphs in 2001 and 2004.
“It was a great effort on the part of the guys,” said skipper Allan Alaalatoa, whose team dominated the entire season.
“But you have to give the Reds credit. We always knew they were going to come back in the second half and they made it very difficult for us.
“I am very proud that the boys can close the game,” he added.
Although the Reds had not defeated the Brumbies in Canberra for six years, they entered the game optimistic after defeating them 26-7 in Brisbane earlier this month.
But the experience of Dan McKellar’s men, Australia’s conference champions in three of the last four Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby campaigns, was ultimately decisive.
“We shot ourselves a little bit in the foot again, our poor discipline was so costly,” Reds captain Liam Wright said.
“But this team has had a lot of fighting and I’m incredibly proud of each one of them. They’ve put in an incredible effort this season.”
Gear
Despite losing, it was a watershed year for the Reds with their run to the finals crowning a rebuilding of the team that former All Black Thorn started three years ago.
Lolesio, in his first start since July due to injury, celebrated his call-up to the Wallabies this week by nailing an easy penalty in the fifth minute to put the Brumbies on the scoreboard first.
An offside allowed James O’Connor to level the scores before the Brumbies got underway with a signature piece from the maul that ended with Folau Fainga’a diving for a try.
Lolesio converted and the Brumbies took control, dominating possession with Andy Muirhead making three tackles for his second five points and a 15-3 lead.
The game seemed to drift away from the Reds before electric wing Jordan Petaia produced a knitting run and dumped Harry Wilson, who landed.
O’Connor converted and then took a difficult penalty on the halftime horn to send them into halftime with a 15-13 deficit.
But they lost Petaia and blocked Lukhan Salakaia-Loto with injuries early in the second verse and the Brumbies capitalized on Tom Banks on their third try.
Lolesio added another eight points from the start to put them 28-13 ahead.
But the Reds refused to leave and Angus Blyth scored a try while O’Connor added five points to keep the game alive with the Brumbies absorbing intense pressure to hold on.
