Brumbies vs Highlanders: Welcome to the party, Aussies outmuscle Kiwis again

The Brumbies’ resilience steered them to a crucial win over the Highlanders on Friday night, with the game hanging in the balance until a late Len Ikitau try put the result beyond doubt.

The Highlanders claimed a lead at three points in the game, but it was the hosts who finished stronger with a late brace off the back of strong set piece work.

Here are four takeaways from the contest.

Welcome to the party, Veveni Lasaqa

Any loose forward who bumps off defenders like Len Ikitau in the wide channels one minute and wins breakdown turnovers the next will win fans.

The Fijian loose forward’s favourite player is David Pocock, and role models don’t come much stronger than the former Wallaby.

Moving a talented openside flanker like Sean Withy to No. 8 was an eyebrow-raising move from Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph, but given what the trio of TK Howden, Lasaqa and Withy bring to the table, it’s only natural the coach would want to see them all on the field at once.

The 22-year-old was responsible for 39 run metres and five defenders beaten with just five carries, putting his hand up for more of an attacking role moving forward.

14 tackles without a miss and a turnover proved his nous on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s clear the former Hurricane has earned the trust of Jamie Joseph, given he was running out of the line to shut down the wide channels when the Brumbies looked to launch more dynamic attacks.

Possession

8%

20%

34%

39%

16%

30%

40%

14%

45%

Possession Last 10 min

55%

58%

Possession

42%

Brumbies too good at breakdown

The Brumbies’ presence in Super Rugby is an essential asset to the competition. A team excelling in the traditional aspects of the game keeps teams honest, and the Highlanders were found lacking on Friday night.

On both sides of the ball, the Brumbies were organised and nailed their tasks against a dangerous Kiwi outfit.

Timoci Tavatavanawai was credited with just the one turnover win on the night, and a lot of work went into keeping his hands off the ball.

The Brunbies were called out for sealing off at various points but were largely able to secure their ball by being quick as a flash to support runners.

Brumbies fans may not expect the most exciting performance, but their accuracy and ability to retain the ball

Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead and Tom Wright had four turnover wins between them, proving how effective the Brumbies were at stopping the Highlanders’ threats out wide.

Referee Jordan Way put emphasis on lifting when players were looking for breakdown steals and penalties, demanding that defenders work to the letter of the law for their turnovers. Tavatavanawai and Ajay Faleafaga were just a couple who were caught out by this standard.

Brumbies punish Highlanders up front

The Highlanders have come a long way over the past two seasons, but their ceiling will always be limited if they can’t find at least parity at scrum time – both with their starting unit and bench.

The team’s success to date highlights the heavy lifting of Ethan de Groot, the team’s lone All Black.

With the star loosehead sidelined in this match on All Blacks rest, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Soane Vikena and Saula Ma’u were put under the pump by the Brumbies’ big boys.

It was Déjà vu of just a week ago, after de Groot left the field in Dunedin and the reserves were shunted backwards by a reserve Reds pack headlined by former All Black Alex Hodgeman.

The challenge, of course, extends to the whole pack, not just the front-rowers. Young Fabian Holland and veteran Mitch Dunshea have big roles in the second row, and if the former is to realize his All Blacks dream, his scrummaging work needs to be world-class.

There were moments as the game entered its final quarter when Josh Bartlett and Sefo Kautai entered the fray that momentum looked to be shifting, but with the Brumbies’ next scrum penalty, Corey Toole scored in the corner. Bartlett finished as the game’s most penalised player in 30 minutes of game time.

In the 70th minute, a Brumbies scrum earned a penalty on their own 22m line, shifting play to a lineout on halfway. A driving maul got the hosts on the front foot before a Corey Toole chip and chase forced the visitors to carry the ball back over their own line. Another Brumbies squad five metres from the Highlanders line saw advantage go the Brumbies’ way, and a free shot on attack saw Andy Muirhead score in the corner.

That’s 80 metres lost and seven points conceded, largely due to set-piece inadequacy. The youngsters in the pack are promising, but losing Jermaine Ainsley has left a void in experience.

Brumbies still off the pace for title contention

The ultimate prize is always the goal for this Brumbies side, and more often than not, they’re the Australian team closest to achieving that dream. This year, that may not be the case.

And, with this performance, while the Brumbies showcased their ability to win big moments, a 76 per cent tackle completion rate is far from a title-winning statement.

Attacking threats like Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jona Nareki, and Caleb Tangitau are always going to beat defenders, but missing 37 tackles is a hard pill for coach Stephen Larkham to swallow.

The team have been a middle-of-the-pack defensive side all season, and that won’t cut it in a shortened, tougher playoffs.