Australian rugby breathed a major sigh of relief after front-line lock Nick Frost climbed to his feet after clutching his right knee.
The towering ACT Brumbies figure so instantly grabbed his knee it looked like a worrying hyper-extension after being caught awkwardly in a tackle.
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Frost brushed off the concern at the 50th-minute mark. He played on until full-time as the Brumbies locked up fourth spot on the table with the 33-17 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.
1 THE WRIGHT STUFF
The Brumbies fullback looked a little foggy after a heavy contact to open the game but regrouped to create the play of the night.
The Brumbies were ahead just 14-10 and were hard on defence when Rebels flyhalf Carter Gordon threw a wide pass on attack.
Wright swooped when the ball went to ground and initiated a superb 70m counter-attack.
After some sharp link play, Wright found the ball in his hands again for an acrobatic dot-down for the try.
It was another example of Wright’s footwork and opportunism as he auditions strongly to be the Wallabies fullback in World Cup year.
2 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Brumbies winger Corey Toole has to be a hot favourite for Australia’s Rookie of the Year in Super Rugby Pacific.
The flying Toole’s ninth try of the year highlighted yet again that there is no substitute for speed.
The double cut-out ball from Jack Debrezceni was excellent and Toole hit it with such speed that he shed cover defender Nick Jooste in an instant.
Toole’s rapid acceleration in those first few metres is his huge asset.
3 END FOR REECE AND THE REBELS
A loss wasn’t the way for Wallaby Reece Hodge to celebrate his 100th and final Super Rugby match for the Rebels.
When the pain of defeat fades a little, he’ll be able to look back at a career where he gave his all as a one-club man.
Hodge setting the example with his professionalism has been a big part of the Rebels’ substantial improvement this year.
The conundrum will be analysing how all those improvements still produced a 4-10 season and 11th.
Defensive hiccups at key moments really cost the Rebels but you could not fault the fight in the side.
Backrowers Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick and Josh Kemeny all won turnovers with their skill over the ball.
4 WHAT’S NEXT?
The men from Canberra will host the Hurricanes in the quarter-finals next weekend.
Home advantage will be huge as Australia’s top team strives to push to the semi-finals.
5 ROB VALETINI
The Brumbies backrower produced nine strong gallops for 64m plus 15 tackles.
That forceful style of game will be essential against the Hurricanes.
Backrow partner Pete Samu enjoyed a winning milestone in his 100th Super Rugby game. His skill will be another big factor to tame the Hurricanes.
