Brumbies take final in Australia

THEACT Brumbies confirmed their domestic superiority in Australian rugby with a 28-23 victory over the Queensland Reds to clinch the Super Rugbyautitle in Canberra.

The victory ensured the Brumbies’ third title at Super

Rugby level, havingwonthe broader international Super Rugby competition in 2001 and 2004.

Hooker Folau Fainga’a, winger Andy Muirhead and fullbacktom Banks all crossed for thehomeside, while first five Noah Lolesio, surprisingly brought back after twomonths out with a hamstring injury, kicked 13 points.

Loose forward Harry Wilson and lock Angus Blyth scored tries for the Reds and James O’connor added 13 points from the boot to give them hopes of adding to their only Super Rugby title in 2011.

“It was a huge effort from the boys,” Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said. “We always knew the Reds were going tocomeback in the second half.

“We did really well to close out that game.”

The Brumbies played to their traditional strength, turning around the Reds with tactical kicking, superb ball retention and putting pressure on them in their ownhalf.

They also took advantage of somepoor discipline to establish a 15-3 lead with tries to Fainga’a and Muirhead.

The Reds dragged themselves back into thegamewith their scrum dominance before Jordan Petaia set upno8wilson for their first try, which O’connor converted.

Hethen added a penalty on the stroke of halftime to pull the score back to 15-13.

The Reds, however, suffered a triple blow in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

First, Petaia was unable to return following the break due to a leg injury, and then lock Lukhan Salakaia-loto failed a head injury assessment. Redswinger Filipo Daugunu was then given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle straight after Banks’ try.

Lolesio added a dropped goal and penalty to give his team a 28-13 lead before O’connor added his third penalty and then Blyth crossed to drag the Reds back to 28-23.

But they were not able to keep theirmomentumgoing.

“Congrats to the Brumbies, they were class the whole season and they showed that again tonight,” Reds captain Liam Wright said.