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The Brumbies have gatecrashed the NSW Waratahs’ homecoming to Allianz Stadium, edging their Super Rugby Pacific rivals in a 31-25 win. In their first game at the venue in five years, the Waratahs were caught napping at key moments and Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies will head back down the highway with a hard-earned victory.
There was some solace for the 25,076 fans present on Friday night, who got to witness the debut of highly-touted teenager Max Jorgensen. The 18-year-old, who became the youngest Waratahs debutant since Kurtley Beale, grabbed two tries in a promising maiden outing at the top level.
Although a late penalty from Tane Edmed gave the home side a losing bonus point, Waratahs coach Darren Coleman was disappointed with his side’s opening effort.
“We didn’t play anywhere near our potential,” Coleman said. “They choked us a bit and it pushed us into errors, we’re a little flat because we had built up this game. I feel we missed a bit of an opportunity, but I think if there are positives is that we are nowhere near our best and got that bonus-point loss, we’ve just got to be better.”
Crafty Brumbies No 9 Ryan Lonergan was the star of the show for the visitors, grabbing 16 of his side’s points - including the opening try - before being subbed off for Nic White in the second half.
Lonergan got his side in the lead when he backed up a pin-balling Tom Wright before Jorgensen levelled by supporting a rampaging Angus Bell to shrug off the tackles of Rob Valentini and Allan Alaalatoa to cross in the 15th minute. Edmed added the conversion, but Bell’s night was cruelled not long after due to a foot injury.
Lonergan and Edmed traded penalties before the hosts’ fate took a twist just before halftime when they switched off at a Brumbies penalty. Lonergan shaped to kick to touch on the near side before finding an unmarked Andy Muirhead on the other side of the field to make it 15-10.
“That’s the beauty of Ryan, he reads the game exceptionally well and knows how to control the game,” Larkham said. “(His assist) was pretty freakish.”
The halfback added two penalties after the Brumbies had a try chalked off for a foot in touch, with Jorgensen squeezing in at the corner to give the Waratahs hope of sealing a comeback.
Brumbies winger Corey Toole and NSW skipper Jake Gordon traded tries, but a missed conversion from Edmed allowed the visitors to maintain a buffer. Noah Lolesio, who converted Toole’s try, was able to add a further three points when Michael Hooper was penalised for not releasing at the breakdown.
“Most of the big games in this competition come down to the last 20 minutes and we were lucky enough to hold on,” Larkham said. “You’re always going to make mistakes at the start of the season - our set piece wasn’t great.”
To compound the defeat, the Waratahs face a nervous wait on the availability of prop Bell after he limped off with a recurrence of a foot issue.The 22-year-old front-rower has been battling the injury since last year’s Tests with England and was forced to miss the Wallabies’ Spring tour to undergo surgery.
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“It’s a massive blow if that’s the case,” said Coleman, when asked if the prop had re-aggravated the injury. “We’re holding out a little bit of hope but we’re going for scans. He said it felt similar to what he did in the England Test, it’s horrible news.”
In Bell’s brief involvement, he was able to set up teenage sensation Jorgensen for his first of two tries on debut.
The wiry winger – whose father Peter was Wallaby No 700 before switching codes to become a rugby league star – had been courted by NRL clubs, but looks set for a bright future in the 15-man game after becoming the Waratahs’ youngest debutant since Kurtley Beale.
“Fear is an amazing motivator when you run that fast,” Coleman said. “Everyone has seen it, he’ll go onwards and upwards, we’re disappointed with the loss but I’m happy for Max. We always knew he was going to handle it and a few things went his way today and he got over the line. So that was awesome, and he’s going to have a good career.”
The loss was the Waratahs’ 10th straight defeat at the hands of the Brumbies, but Coleman has already circled the return fixture in Canberra on April 1. “We get them again in round six, we want to have another go - I don’t think they’re any better than us,” he added.
Australia’s other Super Rugby sides play tonight, with the Queensland Reds taking on the Hurricanes, and the Force hosting the Melbourne Rebels in Perth.
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