The ACT Brumbies overcame treacherous conditions and fierce Moana Pasifika resistance to secure a bonus-point 24-0 victory at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe on Saturday, cementing their place in the Super Rugby Pacific top two.
Key moments:
20′ – Tom Hooper (Brumbies) yellow card for repeated infringements
40+1′ – Corey Toole (Brumbies) try (0-5)
55′ – Billy Pollard (Brumbies) try (0-10)
67′ – Billy Pollard (Brumbies) second try, converted by Declan Meredith (0-17)
74′ – Corey Toole (Brumbies) second try, converted by Declan Meredith (0-24)
78′ – Tom Wright (Brumbies) yellow card for professional foul
In a match dominated by handling errors and tactical kicking due to persistent rain, it was the clinical Brumbies who made their limited opportunities count, with speedster Corey Toole and replacement hooker Billy Pollard both crossing for doubles. Toole’s brave lunge for his opening try nearly sent spectators flying as he skidded along the turf into the advertising barriers, while Pollard’s double came from the back of the Brumbies’ increasingly dominant rolling maul.
The shutout was the Brumbies’ first of the season and showcased their defensive resilience under substantial pressure, particularly during a scoreless opening 40 minutes where they repelled wave after wave of Moana Pasifika attacks before Toole’s opportunistic try right on half-time gave them a slender 5-0 lead.
Moana Pasifika, playing without regular captain Ardie Savea who was sidelined with a neck strain, dominated territory and possession for long periods but couldn’t find a way through the Brumbies’ defensive wall despite creating several promising opportunities. The hosts lacked some physical intensity in the absence of Savea, whose inspirational leadership has been behind many of their improvements this season.
The hosts looked to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to the Blues last week, making ten personnel changes including the return of Julian Savea at inside centre and Patrick Pellegrini resuming his partnership with Jonathan Taumateine in the halves. However, the wet conditions nullified much of their attacking threat and the Brumbies’ set-piece dominance grew as the match progressed.
The first half was characterised by handling errors and tactical kicking as both sides struggled to build phases in the difficult conditions. Moana’s forwards established early dominance with powerful carries from Miracle Fai’ilagi and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, but the Brumbies’ defence held firm even when reduced to 14 men after flanker Tom Hooper was yellow-carded in the 20th minute.
A potential Fine Inisi try for Moana was ruled out after Julian Savea was deemed to have timed his run incorrectly and was called offside from the lineout. The disallowed score came shortly after Inisi had been on the receiving end of a bone-rattling tackle from Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan that left the winger wincing on his haunches.
Toole then struck a psychological blow on the stroke of half-time. After Moana’s Patrick Pellegrini missed a penalty attempt, the Brumbies launched a counter-attack that saw the elusive Andy Muirhead break through before kicking ahead, with Toole showcasing his electric pace to toe the ball ahead and dive on it just before the dead ball line, crashing into the advertising barriers in the process.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Moana Pasifika applying early pressure, only for the Brumbies to gradually assert their dominance through their forward pack. The visitors’ rolling maul became an increasingly potent weapon, and it was from this platform that replacement hooker Billy Pollard extended their lead in the 55th minute, crossing in the left corner after sustained pressure.
Noah Lolesio’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but the Brumbies’ 10-0 lead felt substantial given the conditions and Moana’s inability to breach their defensive line.
As the match entered the final quarter, the Brumbies’ fresh front row of James Slipper, Billy Pollard and Feao Fotuaika began to dominate the scrums, providing the platform for the visitors to control territory and add to their tally.
Pollard secured his second try in the 67th minute from another powerful maul, with replacement fly-half Declan Meredith adding the extras to push the lead to 17-0.
The bonus-point fourth try arrived seven minutes later through a well-executed backline move from a scrum platform. Replacement scrum-half Harrison Goddard delivered a pin-point flick pass to Tom Wright, who quickly transferred a cut-out pass to the unmarked Toole with open pasture ahead, allowing him to race away untouched for his second touchdown. Meredith’s conversion made it 24-0, effectively ending the contest.
The Brumbies had to play the final two minutes with 14 men after Wright was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, but their defence remained impenetrable as they recorded their first clean sheet of the season.
For Moana Pasifika, it was a frustrating afternoon where they showed plenty of endeavour but lacked the clinical edge needed to convert pressure into points. The highest-scoring team in the competition through the opening nine rounds was kept scoreless for only the second time in their history, having previously been shut out in a 59-0 defeat to the Hurricanes at Mt Smart in 2023. Their set-piece struggles, particularly in the second half, undermined their efforts to build a platform from which to launch attacks.
The victory moves the Brumbies into second place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, while Moana Pasifika remain in 10th position with their hopes of making the playoffs fading after this defeat.
Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies will take immense confidence from this performance, especially the defensive resilience shown throughout and their ability to adapt to the conditions and find a way to secure the bonus point.
“It’s really pleasing to come out here to Pukekohe and put in a performance like that against a tough Moana side,” Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa told Sky Sports post-game. “The most pleasing part was to keep their side at zero points and our side [show] their attacking flair so really proud of that effort.”
Alaalatoa added: “I think for us we just had to hustle hard… we had two yellow cards today and still didn’t give any points away.”
The victory will be particularly pleasing for Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, who had rotated his forward pack following what he described pre-match as “an extremely physical test against the Reds” last weekend. Those changes proved effective as the Brumbies pack gradually took control of the contest.
For Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga, who had emphasized the importance of staying disciplined and putting up a complete performance following last week’s loss to the Blues, this result represents another setback in a season of inconsistent performances.
The Brumbies will look to continue their winning momentum when they return home to host the struggling Hurricanes next weekend, while Moana Pasifika face a crucial match against the Fijian Drua at North Harbour Stadium as they attempt to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.
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