Brumbies thrashed by Reds, 31-25 : Super Rugby match recap
Quade Cooper’s boot has at last broken Queensland’s Super Rugby duck. Brumbies’ week of chaos has been compounded by the Reds in Canberra on Saturday with a 31-25 victory.
Seven perfect penalties were landed by Cooper between the Brumbies’ uprights. Adding color to the amazed crowd, Cooper scored a conversion and a drop goal to prove himself a major threat with his boot. Reds played like they were home, while the home side,
Brumbies, scored four tries but still couldn’t give much to the crowd to cheer about at the end. A total of 16,027 Brumbies went home disappointed.
Matt Giteau, the Wallabies pride and number 10 for Brumbies didn’t find unity in the attack, whereas Chiefs kept on dominating and gave a promising performance. The defeat has left Brumbies with one victory from three away matches. Critics have pointed to
this as the aftermath of sacking Andy Friend from the head coach position.
The banners and signs held by fans clearly stated, ‘Bring back our Friend’, whereas the new boss Tony Rea has some top class support from officials and management. This season is turning out to be a lesson for Brumbies and the harshness will increase when
they face Crusaders, who are emotion driven at the moment after the earthquake and deprived of their stadium. The fixture will be followed by a home game against NSW Waratahs, who are looking forward to restore the damage done last weekend at any cost.
Scott Higginbotham scored the first try for Brumbies in 12th minute, giving them a good start, but Cooper was on the go soon after. Reds replied in 21st minute through Stephen Moore and then in 32nd minute fullback Pat McCabe
made a comeback for Reds.
Reds were at 22-15 lead before the halftime with the help of Cooper’s kicking. Brumbies gave a storming start to second half when Reds’ Ben Daley was sin binned. The development caused Ita Vaea to come on field and the people’s favorite was received with
a huge applause.
Giteau missed a penalty causing major damage to Brumbies in the 43rd minutes, or else the score would have been level and would have helped relieve the pressure of the Brumbies. On the other hand, Cooper kept on adding penalties consistently.
His 52nd, 55th and 69th minute penalties boosted the Reds and confirmed their victory. The scores went to 31-20 and the only development that occurred after this was a denied try to Ben Alexander and a successful penalty by
Matt Giteau.
Brumbies came to attack the Reds in the last stage and a few breathtaking efforts by the Brumbies’ attack weren’t enough to stop Reds from taking what they had already won. Though, it was the second victory for Reds in their past 17 games of Super Rugby,
the Reds are on their way to make a difference this season.
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