The ACT Brumbies survived a rollercoaster encounter to edge the Highlanders 34-27 in a pulsating Super Rugby Pacific clash at GIO Stadium on Friday night. In a match that swung dramatically throughout, it took until the 78th minute for the home side to secure victory through a decisive Len Ikitau try.
Key moments:
1′ – Corey Toole (Brumbies) yellow card for high tackle
5′ – Noah Lolesio penalty (3-0)
11′ – Caleb Tangitau try (3-5)
22′ – Billy Pollard try, Lolesio conversion (10-5)
31′ – Allan Alaalatoa try, conversion missed (15-5)
44′ – Sam Gilbert try, conversion (15-12)
54′ – Jona Nareki try, Gilbert conversion (15-19)
66′ – Gilbert penalty (15-22)
73′ – Andy Muirhead try, Jack Debreczeni conversion (22-22)
78′ – Len Ikitau try, Debreczeni conversion (29-22)
80′ – Caleb Tangitau try, conversion missed (34-27)
The win was crucial for Stephen Larkham’s side, who entered the match with a siege mentality after suffering their first defeat to the Waratahs in seven years last weekend. The result keeps the Brumbies firmly in the top six, while the Highlanders claimed a valuable bonus point despite the defeat.
The match began in dramatic fashion with Brumbies winger Corey Toole sent to the sin bin in the opening minute for a high tackle on Thomas Umaga-Jensen from the kickoff. It was an almost identical scenario to last week’s start against the Waratahs, where Toole was penalised for cleaning up Langi Gleeson. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Brumbies struck first through a Noah Lolesio penalty to lead 3-0.
It was the visitors who claimed the first try, however. In the 11th minute, Sam Gilbert sliced through the Brumbies’ defence and linked with Jona Nareki who put Caleb Tangitau over in the corner. Gilbert’s conversion attempt struck the upright, leaving the Highlanders with a narrow 5-3 lead, but showcasing the dangerous attacking potential of their back three.
The Brumbies’ forward dominance began to tell midway through the first half. After a patient 17-phase build-up, hooker Billy Pollard burrowed over from close range following Corey Toole’s scything run down the left touchline. Lolesio added the extras to give the hosts a 10-5 advantage.
The Highlanders struggled to establish any rhythm in the first half, largely due to an unsteady performance from fly-half Taine Robinson. A wayward pass, two restarts out on full, a dropped high ball and a missed kick for touch prevented the visitors from capitalising on their attacking potential. The Brumbies, by contrast, were clinical, controlling territory through the precise kicking of Harrison Goddard and Noah Lolesio.
The Brumbies extended their lead on the half-hour mark when captain Allan Alaalatoa crashed over after sustained pressure near the Highlanders’ line. The conversion was missed, but the Brumbies took a comfortable 15-5 lead into halftime.
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The penalty count was 9-5 in favour of the Brumbies at the break, with the Highlanders visibly frustrated by Australian referee Jordan Way’s interpretations, particularly at the breakdown where the home side won several crucial turnovers.
The Highlanders came out firing after the break. Just four minutes into the second half, Sam Gilbert crossed after excellent work from Nathan Hastie and Caleb Tangitau, narrowing the gap to 15-12. A beautiful interplay between Highlanders captain Timoci Tavatavanawai and Veveni Lasaqa helped set up field position for this score, with the visitors suddenly looking far more cohesive in attack.
The momentum had clearly shifted, and the Highlanders took the lead in the 54th minute through a spectacular Jona Nareki try. The fleet-footed winger finished a counter-attacking move from inside his own half, with Gilbert’s conversion making it 19-15 to the visitors. The try stemmed from a Hastie half-break from a turnover, with Nareki breaking multiple tackles to race away to the line.
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Gilbert extended the lead to seven points with a penalty in the 66th minute, putting the Brumbies under serious pressure as the match entered its final stages. The penalty came after another brilliant piece of work from Lasaqa, who forced a holding-on penalty at the breakdown.
The Brumbies’ response was emphatic. Their scrum began to dominate proceedings, earning five consecutive penalties that proved decisive. The home side’s replacements made a significant impact, with Blake Schoupp in particular causing havoc for the Highlanders’ front row. After one such penalty, the Brumbies worked the ball wide with six pairs of hands, culminating in Andy Muirhead stepping inside to score in the right corner. Replacement fly-half Jack Debreczeni knocked over the conversion to level the scores at 22-all.
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Debreczeni’s introduction in place of Lolesio in the 56th minute proved a masterstroke from Larkham. The veteran playmaker immediately brought more width to the Brumbies’ attack and his game management in the closing stages was impeccable.
With time running out, the Brumbies’ experience told. In the 78th minute, a clever blindside move involving Ollie Sapsford released Len Ikitau, who powered over to seemingly secure victory. The move came after another dominant scrum and featured a brilliant pass from Sapsford that left the Highlanders’ defence flat-footed. Debreczeni’s conversion made it 29-22 with just two minutes remaining
But there was still time for more drama. As the final hooter sounded, Caleb Tangitau raced away for his second try after regathering his own chip kick. The exciting young winger showed remarkable pace to get to his own kick ahead of the covering defence, touching down in the corner. The missed conversion meant the Highlanders needed a converted try to draw level.
The visitors threw everything at the Brumbies in a frantic passage of overtime play, pushing deep into ACT territory. A burst from Henry Bell and some quick hands from Nareki had the Highlanders advancing past the halfway line. The tension was palpable as they continued to recycle possession and edge towards the Brumbies’ 22. But after 84 minutes of pulsating rugby, the Highlanders coughed up possession as a desperate pass went to ground, and the relieved Brumbies celebrated a hard-fought victory.
For the Highlanders, it was another frustrating defeat that keeps them just outside the top six. Their set-piece woes, particularly in the scrum, proved costly for the second consecutive week. The absence of All Black Ethan de Groot was keenly felt as both Daniel Lienert-Brown and replacement Josh Bartlett struggled against the experienced Wallaby front row of Alaalatoa and James Slipper. The Brumbies exploited this advantage ruthlessly in the final quarter, using their scrum dominance to force penalties and establish field position.
Despite the set-piece struggles, there were bright spots for the visitors. Jona Nareki was electric with ball in hand, beating multiple defenders with his sharp footwork. Nathan Hastie impressed at halfback with several sniping breaks around the fringes, while 22-year-old flanker Veveni Lasaqa was outstanding on both sides of the ball, making several strong carries and constantly disrupting at defensive rucks. Caleb Tangitau confirmed his status as one of the competition’s breakout stars with another two-try performance, showcasing his pace and finishing ability.
The Brumbies, meanwhile, were bolstered by strong performances across the park. James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa set the tone early with their scrummaging and work rate in the loose, while Nick Frost was immense in the lineout, securing his own ball and disrupting the Highlanders’ throws. Tom Hooper worked tirelessly throughout the 80 minutes, making tackle after tackle and carrying strongly into contact.
In the backs, Harrison Goddard controlled the tempo well with his box-kicking and service, while Noah Lolesio showed good game management before being replaced by Debreczeni. Andy Muirhead was a constant threat with his footwork and acceleration, while Len Ikitau’s powerful running in midfield consistently got the Brumbies over the gain line. David Feliuai also impressed with his defensive work, making a crucial spot tackle on Hastie in the second half that halted a promising Highlanders attack.
The match statistics reflected how evenly contested the encounter was, with possession and territory nearly split 50-50. The Brumbies made more tackles (132 to 124) and conceded fewer turnovers (10 to 14), but the Highlanders made more line breaks (8 to 6) and beat more defenders (25 to 18). In the end, it was the Brumbies’ superior set-piece and ability to convert pressure into points that proved the difference.
The Brumbies now head into a bye week before a challenging run of fixtures, including away games against the Queensland Reds and Moana Pasifika, followed by testing home fixtures against the Waratahs and Hurricanes. For the Highlanders, they’ll need to address their scrum issues quickly before facing the Western Force in Perth next week, with promising young fly-half Cameron Millar potentially set to return from concussion to strengthen their backline options.
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