FLASHBACK …. The Highlanders take on the Qld Reds in Brisbane in 2024. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Ryan Lonergan kicked a last-minute penalty to secure the ACT Brumbies a 21-20 win over the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
It was the Brumbies’ first win at Eden Park in 12 years, and was against the defending champions, in the opening game of round four of Super Rugby Pacific.
The Brumbies scrum won the penalty in front of the Blues’ goal posts with two minutes to go to set up the Blues’ first loss to an Australian team in 24 games.
The Aucklanders led 20-10 at the break after two tries in two minutes just before halftime to All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao and (centre) Rieko Ioane.
The Brumbies’ cause was helped when All Black Beauden Barrett missed the two conversion attempts and a penalty goal attempt.
The Brumbies had levelled up at 10-10 before the Blues struck for the lead at the break.
The Brumbies fought back in the second half, first with a penalty goal to Declan Meredith before he crossed out wide but missed the conversion attempt.
NSW WIN
The NSW Waratahs also broke a 16-year ‘hoodoo’ with a 34-10 win over the Western Force in Sydney.
Overcoming the first-half loss of skipper Jake Gordon and No. 8 Langi Gleeson, the Waratahs ran in six tries to one; it was the first time they opened the season with three straight wins since 2009.
Wooden spooners last season, the Waratahs are now second on the points table.
Even without prized signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the Tahs had too much firepower for the Force who had also won their first two games in their best start to a Super season.
A try-scoring double from winger Max Jorgensen, including an intercept, put the Tahs up 15-5 at the break in an otherwise dour forward battle in the first half.
Openside Carlo Tizzano scored his sixth try of 2025 for the Force who could only add more points with a try after the fulltime siren had sounded and they had conceded three more tries.
REDS ROLLED
On Sunday, the Crusaders restored Super Rugby order in Christchurch by running in six tries to beat the Queensland Reds 43-19.
The Reds were punished for their confidence, often while attempting to run out of their own defence, as the hosts ran in six tries inside 42 minutes.
Former Wallaby and Reds playmaker James O’Connor converted one of the tries against his former team.
- In the other games, The Fijian Drua defeated table-leaders Chiefs (NZ) 25-17 in wet conditions at Churchill Park in Lautoka and the Auckland-based Moana Pasifika scored a 40-31 win over the Hurricanes.
The Dunedin-based Highlanders had the bye.
