The Brumbies produced a terrific win over the Hurricanes in Canberra during the most competitive round yet of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
The 12-10 victory was all about a super-committed effort at the breakdown, hassling defence and switched-on ball carries.
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There were no 20-point blowouts this week except for the NSW Waratahs getting another embarrassing lesson that developing a defensive system capable of keeping sides under 50 points should come way before the fancy attacking side of the game.
Again, the Australians got more out of this round than the Kiwis in terms of learning what it takes to go to the next level.
Two Kiwi teams will fight it out in the Trans-Tasman final but be certain that Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is quietly delighted that his players have copped this rude shock over the past month before the fabulous French arrive for the eToro series next month.
So, five things we spied in Round Four.
1 ANTON LIENERT-GOLD
If you see a better display from an outside centre this season be sure to let us know. Chiefs’ strike player Anton Lienert-Brown showed off every skill during his two-try masterclass against the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval.
The super stats line of 13 ball carries for 123m, five offloads, eight tackle busts and those two tries only tells part of the story.
Top backs are always looking for double-touches in attacking plays a la Lienert-Brown for one of his tries.
He also put on a neat pass for a Kaleb Trask try, ran a close, support line for a try, used his step and speed to create chances and kept being involved in multiple ways.
Australian outside centres Len Ikitau (Brumbies) and Hunter Paisami (Reds) both had positive games but Lienert-Brown's workrate shows what’s possible.
You have to really like Ikitau’s balance. He took that Nic White inside pass but had so much work still to do. He shed three Hurricanes’ defenders, stayed upright and scored the key try.
2 No.8s GALORE
Filling the No.8 spot at the Wallabies won’t be a problem with Harry Wilson (Reds), Rob Valetini (Brumbies) and now Isi Naisarani (Rebels) all in top form.
Wilson had a fine game against the Blues to sustain his productivity.
Naisarani needed his big outing against the Chiefs with Wallabies coach Rennie watching on.
Naisarani really powered into tackles and made good post-contact metres when fighting for more ground.
Two tries, 17 runs for 88m, five tackle busts and seven tackles was the workrate you want to see from him every game.
3 PASIFIKA JERSEY KUDOS
Full credit to the Brumbies for honouring the strong Pasifika influence at the club with the special jersey worn against the Hurricanes.
The jersey had unique acknowledgements to the Maori, Tonga, Samoan, Fijian and Niuean people in the design by Angelique Sloss.
The central image on the front of the jersey was a warrior of the pacific setting out on his waka (boat).
Pasifika players make up close to 40 per cent of the players in Australia’s Super Rugby teams.
4 TURNSTILES RUGBY
It’s unbelievable that the NSW Waratahs have now conceded 33 tries in four games and are giving up an average of 56 points per outing to Kiwi opponents.
There remains something horribly wrong with a defensive system where forlorn wingers are repeatedly coming in off their wing and a Kiwi move ends with an unopposed run to the tryline.
Embarrassing doesn’t even come close as a word.
The landslide on the scoreboard just casts a shadow over little wins like Will Harrison’s super double-cut out pass to put Jack Maddocks over against the Highlanders.
5 LONERGAN BROTHERS
We are seeing more of the value that the Lonergan brothers, Lachie and Ryan, infuse the Brumbies with.
Hooker Lachie managed 10 gallops to go with his busy work at the breakdown.
Ryan’s well-taken try was vital in a close game and the Brumbies will benefit in the longer term now they have groomed a second halfback beside Wallaby Nic White.
