New South Wales Waratahs defeat the Brumbies in Super 14 trial

[travelling_gerry]

New South Wales Waratahs defeat the Brumbies in Super 14 trial

By Liam Fitzgibbon
February 04, 2010 New South Wales Waratahs have rounded out their Super 14 preparations with a hard-fought 15-7 win over the Brumbies in a trial match at Viking Oval in Canberra.
In a hotly-contested and sometimes heated hit-out played in front of almost 4500 fans, the Waratahs overcame plenty of pressure from the home side to get a solid hit-out and make it two wins from three trials heading into the opening round.

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh played down the importance of the win, but said the tough contest was the perfect preparation for the season-opener against Queensland reds.

"I think everyone's just trying to get a blow out, get the air in the lungs and we're all focused on next week," Waugh said.

"I think both teams are in pretty good condition now to head into the competition."

Brumbies No.8 Stephan Hoiles was also keen to play down his side's second straight trial loss.

"The boys will be sore tomorrow but we're not going to get an easy game against (Western) Force (in round one)," he said.

"I think that was as close to Super 14 match conditions as you're going to get."

Waugh opened the scoring, crashing over in the seventh minute after NSW's all-star forward pack forced their way over the line from the scrum.

But the Brumbies hit back only four minutes later, with winger Francis Fainifo breaking the line with a dangerous run and setting up fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Berrick Barnes, who impressed again at fly half, gave the visitors the lead in the 26th minute, opting to take a shot at goal when awarded a penalty 35 metres out, the decision earning boos from the vocal home crowd.

The Brumbies survived a stack of late pressure from the Waratahs to head into the break trailing by just one but couldn't capitalise on several chances in the second half.

Instead it was NSW who added to the scoreboard again, with the injection of speedy winger Peter Betham proving the game-breaker.

He made a stunning run from well inside his own half, stepping and slicing though the Brumbies defence and turning the ball inside for Josh Holmes to score.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend opted not to risk his two highest-profile signings, Wallabies duo Rocky Elsom (hamstring) and Matt Giteau (quad) due to minor problems, while NSW coach Chris Hickey also erred on the side of caution with prize recruit Drew Mitchell (hamstring).

Kurtley Beale came on in the second half for NSW after a last-minute flight to Canberra due to his assault court case being adjourned to June.

AAP


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[JediKnight]

4,500 fans at the game? Wow, what a turnout!!!

[tragic]

Almost 4500, Jedi. Almost.

[travelling_gerry]

They love their sport in Canberra.

[Lee Grant]

The Tahs beat the Brumbies 15-7 last night in Canberra. Wasn't a great game because some of the execution from both sides was poor. The ball was dropped a lot. It was dewy and then it rained but that didn't excuse so many handling errors.

The Brumbies scrum was bad and the lineouts not much better. Both sides were willing in the contests and there was a lot of passion from both sides.

Best players

• Brumbies flyhalf To'omua had a top game running with the pill.

• Beale came on in the 2nd half for the Tahs and lifted the backline.

• Ex-Joeys schoolboy star winger Peter Betham who has had a lot of injuries looks ready to be signed up by somebody.

• Fainifo looked dangerous.

If anybody wants to look at a more comprehensive review of the game on another forum go here:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/for...?topic=9829.60