Highlanders too good for Brumbies

CANBERRA: The Highlanders held on for a 15-9 victory over the Brumbies on a wet and windy night in Canberra yesterday to become the first team to reach the Super Rugby semi-finals.

Tries either side of halftime from wing Waisake Naholo and No 8 Liam Squire and five points from the boot of flyhalf Lima Sopoaga were enough to send the defending champions into the last four and end Australian interest in the competition.

The Brumbies had three penalties from flyhalf Christian Lealiifano but struggled for penetration in attack and were unable to convert the few chances they created into tries, even when camped on the Highlanders’ line for the last seven minutes.

“It was always going to be tough coming over here, and we’re stoked we’re into the semi-finals,” said Highlanders skipper Shane Christie.

Conditions more reminiscent of the far south of New Zealand than the Australian capital ensured the contest would not be a great spectacle, and it was a Sopoaga interception just before the hour mark that proved decisive.

As the Brumbies, trailing by a point at 10-9, went through a set move from an attacking line-out, the two-cap All Black stole in to snatch the ball before releasing Matt Faddes for a run to the line.

The outside centre did not have enough pace to outrun the cover defence but the Highlanders recycled the ball quickly and Sopoaga and fullback Ben Smith got it into the hands of Squire, who crashed over.

Replacement wing Lausii Taliauli thought he had scored a try that would have brought the home side back to within a point with seven minutes left on the clock and a conversion to come. However, the TV review official was unable to confirm a grounding.

The Brumbies then laid siege to the visitors’ line but were unable to score. – Reuters