Brumbies applaud hat-trick hero
WALLABY flank David Pocock scored three tries as the ACT Brumbies bounced back with a 31-18 bonus-point Super Rugby win over the Otago Highlanders in Canberra yesterday.
His feat plus a fourth try resulted in the side returning to the winners’ list after back-to-back losses to consolidate their lead at the top of the Australian conference.
Pocock, fighting his way back from two knee reconstructions, scored his hat-trick inside the opening 35 minutes off the back of an effective driving maul.
Winger Henry Speight opened the scoring in the fifth minute after the Brumbies seized on a loose ball from an Otago scrum win to score at the other end of the field. Christian Lealiifano converted all four tries and landed a penalty goal for a tally of 11 points.
The Brumbies blew the Highlanders away in a clinical first half to lead 31-6 at half-time.
But the Highlanders knuckled down in the second half, outscoring the home side 12 points to nil with tries to Shaun Treevy and Dan Pryor and were pressing at the end for a losing bonus point.
The Highlanders looked disjointed without their three rested All Blacks – fullback Ben Smith, centre Malakai Fekitoa and scrumhalf Aaron Smith.
“We really needed that win aft- er two losses so we’re very happy to get the five points,” Brumbies’ skipper Stephen Moore said.
“We would have liked to have kicked on in the second half but we knew they would come back into the game.
“The driving maul really worked well for us. Our mauls have been pretty good and we’re happy to get the tries off the back of that tonight.”
Highlanders’ skipper Nasi Manu said it was an embarrassing first half for his side.
The Highlanders host Sharks next week, while the Brumbies face the NSW Waratahs at home. – AFP