AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE IRISH...IJUST HAD TO BOAST!!!!!! WOOHOO!! ACT Brumbies score historic win over British and Irish Lions Tevita Kuridrani of the Brumbies celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the International tour match between the ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions. Source: Getty Images HISTORY-makers and heart-breakers, the Brumbies produced one of the finest results in their existence to shock the British & Irish Lions last night, inflicting the first defeat on the tourists this series. Jake White’s team celebrated Grand Final style with an improbable 14-12 win, becoming the first provincial side in 16 years to beat the Lions. In front of 21,655 mostly jubilant spectators, a Brumbies side missing nine regular starters displayed all the grit, tenacity and smarts that have been a hallmark of White’s tenure. The result only enhances White’s credentials to one day coach the Wallabies, while some of his players will be even closer to cracking the national side following this gallant effort. Not since 1997, against Northern Transvaal, had the Lions lost to a club side, and it has shattered their recent boasts of hoping to go undefeated in Australia in 2013. from Brumbies v Lions The Brumbies defence was courageous and mighty. Christian Wade of the Lions competes for the ball in the air with Ian Prior of the Brumbies during the International tour match between the ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at Canberra Stadium. The Lions’ lineout started going astray, backline passes began sailing over upstretched arms, their scrums were pushed backwards. Replacement playmaker Owen Farrell brought the Lions back to within a try when his first penalty kick cut the Brumbies’ lead to 14-9 with 15 minutes remaining. When Farrell kicked his second to make it 14-12, the scene was set for a thrilling final 10 minutes. But the Brumbies won three breakdown turnovers to hold on for a nail-biting triumph. A hailstorm in the afternoon left the stadium turf white, with fears the match would descend into a sloppy kick-oriented spill-fest. But the surface had returned to its rightful tinge at kick-off and both sides showed skilful handling. Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua and fullback Jesse Mogg dictated terms with masterful kicking. Toby Faletau of the Lions is tackled by Peter Kimlin during the International tour match between the ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at Canberra Stadium. Toomua was magnificent in defence and Mogg brilliant under the high ball, while both were intermittent attacking threats. Prior to the game, Brumbies backline coach and legendary Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham had anointed Toomua as the best five-eighth in the land, particularly in defence. Toomua’s 75th minute breakdown turnover, with the Lions deep in attack, was Test-match quality play. Brumbies skipper Peter Kimlin and Scott Fardy were superb at the breakdown. The Brumbies’ defensive capabilities were highlighted in the 49th minute when the Lions had taken the ball up for 11 phases and lost ground, forcing Hogg to kick. Holding an 8-3 lead at half-time, the Brumbies went further ahead via Mogg’s second penalty six minutes into the second stanza. Lions prop Ryan Grant was then pinged for dangerous play when he attempted to wretch rival Scott Sio from a maul by clawing and choking him from behind. Ian Prior of the B Brumbies passes the ball during the International tour match between the ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at Canberra Stadium. Mogg put the Brumbies 14-3 ahead but by the 56th minute Hogg had reduced the margin with his second penalty. The Lions then replaced their entire front row and they soon earned a scrum penalty, which Hogg again failed to kick by hitting the post. Tevita Kuridrani scored the only try of the game after just six minutes. The powerful centre was set up by a deft in-out pass from midfield partner Andrew Smith, who took a triple cut-out pass across field from Jesse Mogg. Kuridrani latched on to the ball and raced down the sideline before swatting away diminutive winger Christian Wade with a dismissive fend and crashing over. He later set up Colby Fainga’a for a break, but the flanker’s attempted pass to an umarked Smith was knocked down by Lions fullback Rob Kearney. A thumping tackle on Billy Twelvetrees in his own quarter further highlighted Kuridrani’s effort, but Smith was equally devastating in defence. The Lions should have finally got on the scoreboard in the 20th minute when Kimlin was penalised for collapsing a maul, but Stuart Hogg’s routine attempt bounced off the upright. Brumbies halfback Ian Prior’s penalty attempt three minutes before the break went wide, but Mogg kicked the first successful goal of the game 90 seconds later following another breakdown infringement by the Lions. With the half-time siren having sounded, the Lions attacked the Brumbies line feverishly and earned a penalty kick at the breakdown. Hogg finally slotted the goal for the Lions’ first points, sparing them the embarrassment of being held scoreless in the first half for the first time since. But there was no sparing them the embarrassment of this defeat, which will live long in the memory of the nation’s capital. BRUMBIES 14 (Tevita Kuridrani try Jesse Mogg 3 pens) bt LIONS 12 (Owen Farrell 2, Stuart Hogg 2 pens) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Jerome Garces. Crowd: 21,655
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:18:53 +0000
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