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FULL HOUSE: GRITTY LIONS SECURE FIFTH AND FINAL AUSTRALIAN SCALP
Smith’s try the difference in tense battle against the Brumbies.
It took a massive defensive effort and a piece of magic from flank Kwagga Smith to steer the Lions to a grinding 13-6 Super Rugby win over the Brumbies in Canberra yesterday.
It was only the Lions’ second win in Canberra in 10 outings and ensured they return unbeaten from the away leg on Aussie soil, having also beaten the Force and the Rebels. The win also completes their clean sweep against all the Australian sides, having beaten the Waratahs and Reds at at home earlier.
Bagging their 10th win in 11 starts has left the Lions on 46 points and joint-top of the overall log.
With the Brumbies making a rare handling error in midfield in the 54th minute, Lions captain Warren Whiteley pounced on the ball and put the flying Smith away for a 60m sprint for the only try of the game.
It put the Lions up 10-3, but the defining moment arrived when their first-choice front row of Jacques van Rooyen, Malcolm Marx and Ruan Dreyer were sent on in the 48th minute.
But they will have to thank Lions flanker Ruan Ackermann, who was a tower of strength on the ground making two vital turnovers with the Brumbies strong on attack late in the game.
On the back foot for most of the game, it took 52 minutes for the Lions to put their first points on the board through a penalty by flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The only points of the opening half came through a penalty from flyhalf Wharenui Hawera for a 3-0 halftime lead and it was only passionate defence by the Lions which prevented a bigger lead.
The Lions really struggled to get their hands on the ball and enjoyed just 33% possession and 35% territory in the opening half as the Brumbies dominated proceedings.
The visitors had to defend for their lives and were lucky that two Brumbies tries were disallowed, the first by wing James Dargaville for an earlier knock-on, and then flank Scott Fardy losing the ball on the way to the tryline.
Little mistakes started to creep into the Lions game, like a lost lineout from an attacking penalty seven minutes before the break, when Smith was through but called back for an off-side call.