Brumbies v Lions - Super 14 Week 4 - LIVE SCORES - Rugby Union

P McCabe

S Mortlock

C Lealiifano

F Fainifo

S Hoiles

G Smith

B Hand

S Moore

G Shepherdson

J Harrison

M Chapman

P Phibbs

M Toomua

T Smith

Preview

Preview: Brumbies v Lions

By Steve Orme, Sportal

VENUE & TIME: Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Friday March 5, 7.40pm (AEDT)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 – Brumbies 11, Lions/Cats 4
LAST TIME: March 21, 2009 (Johannesburg) – Lions 25-17 Brumbies (round 6)
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 25, 2008 (Canberra) – Brumbies 28-21 Lions (round 11)

Match Odds:
Luxbet: Brumbies: $1.02, Lions $14.00

WALKING WOUNDED: The Brumbies emerged from a torrid encounter with the Stormers unscathed allowing coach Andy Friend to name an unchanged 22 for his side's first home fixture of the season.
In contrast, Lions coach Dick Muir has made a whopping eight changes to his starting line-up following three-consecutive losses to start the season. Flyhalf Carlos Spencer, who currently sits on 99 Super rugby caps, will be given up until game day to prove his fitness but is an unlikely starter after picking up a knock against the Hurricanes. Centre Deon van Rensburg (thumb) is the other player not considered through injury while the other six changes are a result of the team's rotation policy - not poor form - according to Muir.

FORM:
Brumbies Past Five:
Week 3: Win, 19-17 v Stormers, Cape Town
Week 2: Loss, 50-32 Bulls, Pretoria
Week 1: Win, 24-15 v Force, Perth
Week 14: Loss, 10-7 v Chiefs, Hamilton
Week 13: Win, 37-15 v Blues, Canberra

Lions Past Five:
Week 3: Loss, 33-18 v Hurricanes, Wellington
Week 2: Loss, 72-65 v Chiefs, Johannesburg
Week1: Loss, 26-13 v Stormers, Johannesburg
Week 14:Loss, 38-33 v Waratahs, Johannesburg
Week 13: Win, 27-22 v Highlanders, Johannesburg

The Brumbies bounced backed well from a disappointing loss against the Bulls in Pretoria to pip the highly-fancied Stormers and return to Canberra Stadium with two wins in the bank following a torrid three-match road trip. Although currently occupying seventh spot on the ladder, look for the Canberra-based club to rocket up the charts in the coming weeks, as seven of its final 10 matches are home fixtures.
The Lions find themselves in familiar territory after three rounds of the competition in 13th spot on the ladder. But while they have been perennial underachievers in recent seasons, the men from Johannesburg have shown signs of improvement against tough opposition in the early rounds. Defence remains an issue for the Lions having conceded more points than any other side, but they did show a marked improvement in that area against the Hurricanes last start.

WHO'S HOT: George Smith deservedly received most of the plaudits following his match-winning intercept try in the 77th minute against the Stormers but he wasn't the only Brumby to perform well in Cape Town in what was a strong performance across the board. Matt Giteau controlled things well from flyhalf as the Brumbies executed an ultra-conservative game plan to perfection, while the forwards toiled tirelessly all day in what was an out-and-out slugfest.
It would be a stretch to include any of the Lions in this category just yet but enigmatic flyhalf Spencer is still capable of anything on his day - let's just hope he can get on the field.

WE THINK: The Brumbies have signalled their intentions to run the ball at every opportunity this weekend, so this one could get pretty ugly for the Lions. Giteau's return to Canberra Stadium following three years with the Force will provide extra motivation for the hosts, while Rocky Elsom will also be out to impress in his first home game with his new side. Brumbies by 20.

TEAMS:

Brumbies:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Pat McCabe, 13. Stirling Mortlock, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Francis Fainifo, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Stephen Hoiles (c), 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Ben Hand, 3. Salesi Ma'afu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander
Reserves: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Justin Harrison, 19. Mitchell Chapman, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. Tyrone Smith

Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Tonderai Chavanga, 13. Walter Venter, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Dusty Noble, 10. Burton Francis, 9. JP Joubert, 8. Todd Clever, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar, 5. Willem Stoltz, 4. George Earl, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Charles Emslie, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Reserves: 16. Hannes Franklin, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Franco van der Merwe, 19. Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, 20. Jacques Coetzee, 21. Carlos Spencer/Wandile Mjekevu, 22. Earl Rose

REFEREE: Steve Walsh

Commentary

Preview: Brumbies v Lions

By Steve Orme, Sportal

80:00 The ball is knocked on by Ashley-Cooper and that's the end of the game. The Brumbies win 24-13 over the Lions at full time. Thanks for joining us.

79:00 poor discipline costs the Brumbies and they have been pushed back 40m but still have possession.

78:00 A huge hit from prop Alexander sends Rose back over his own try line to give the Brumbies a 5m scrum, the Brumbies will desperately want the 4th try bonus point.

76:00 The Lions are playing dangerously as they try to attempt to run the ball out from their own 22m.

74:00 A great try saving tackle from Mjekevu on McCabe gives the Lions some hope, but they're running out of time.

73:00 Some good work from the Brumbies forwards has got them into the Lions 22m.

71:00 A knock on from Van Rensburg on half way gives the Brumbies the scrum feed.

70:00 The Lions have turned over possession but their attack does not look strong enough to break this Brumbies' defence.

68:00 Possession is still with the Brumbies in their own half.

66:30 Elsom is off for Chapman. Francis puts up huge bomb which is perfectly gathered by Ashley-Cooper for the mark, a wasted opportunity form the Lions.

64:30 A mistake from McCabe under the highball gives the Lions a scrum feed outside of the Brumbies 22m.

63:00 The Lions have managed to get some possession and are up to the half way.

61:00 Halfback Valentine blows a chance as he knocks the ball on in an attempt to pick and go over the try line. Scrum feed to the Lions on their own 5m.

60:00 A mistake from the Lions as the ball is pass from outside the 22 and then kicked out on the full by Francis. Lineout Brumbies in the Lions' 22.

58:00 Another fantastic Giteau kick puts the Lions back under pressure as the kick bounces out in the Lions' 22. The Brumbies turn over possession from the lineout.

56:00 TRY BRUMBIES - A turn over in possession sees Moore bust over in the corner from a pick and go. Giteau converts from the sideline, Brumbies lead 24-13.

54:00 A super kick from Giteau outside his own 22 bounces out in the Lions 22, Lineout Lions.

53:00 TRY LIONS - Replacement hooker Franklin busts over to score from a pick and go. Francis converts and the score is now cut down to 17-13 to the Brumbies.

51:00 Some good pick and go movements from the Lions sees them advance up to the Brumbies' 22m, they have now put together 10 phases.

49:00 TRY BRUMBIES - A great bust from Elsom puts Lealiifano into a gap who busts over the line to score the try. Giteau converts and the Brumbies now lead 17-6

46:00 Mortlock drops the ball in midfield and the Lions will have the scrum feed in the Brumbies' half.

45:00 A great stabbing kick from Francis over the Brumbies defence sees the ball bounce out on the Brumbies 5m, Brumbies take it quickly and boot the ball back down field.

43:00 PENALTY - Moore is penalised at the breakdown, Francis opts for a shot at goal 45m out on the angle and is successful, What a kick! Brumbies lead is now 10-6

41:00 The action is back underway here in Canberra, both teams will be looking to score some points after what was a disappointing 1st half

40:00 Fainifo loses the ball forward which signals half time here at Canberra with the Brumbies leading 10-3

39:00 there is a stoppage in play as some players a nursing small injuries.

38:00 Some good pressure from the restart has given the Lions possession in the Brumbies 22. Francis takes a drop goal attempt but it fades away.

36:00 PENALTY TRY - Lions halfback Joubert put himself in an offside position with the Brumbies attacking close to the line, Giteau converts and the Brumbies lead 10-3

34:00 A quick turn around sees the Brumbies with a lineout throw 10m from the Lions' try line, the throw is not straight from Moore and the Lions will feed the scrum.

32:00 The ball is finally out and possession is with the Lions on half way. Various displays of high bombs are taking place by both sides.

30:00 Giteau loses the ball forward letting the Lions defence off the hook. Scrum feed Lions still on their own 5m

29:00 problems still continue at scrum time slowing down the action of this game, the Brumbies have been camped on the Lions' 5m for over 5 minutes now.

27:30 An official team warning is sent out to the Lions by Referee Steve Walsh as they are again penailsed, Emslie offends again and is sent to the bin for 10 minutes.

26:30 Another penalty as Minnie is this time penalised but the Brumbies again opt for a scrum rather than a shot at goal. They are still 5m out from the Lions' try line

25:00 Stoltz is penalised for offside 5m out but the Brumbies opt for a scrum rather than a shot at goal.

23:00 Emslie is penalised at the breakdown and Giteau kicks for touch. The Brumbies are now close to the Lions' 22m

21:00 Scrum problems persist for both teams, play is very slow at the moment.

19:00 George Smith is penalised for playing the ball on the ground and Francis will kick for touch to try get the Lions into a good attacking position.

18:00 Ashley-Cooper and Fainifo have a nasty head clash but both are ok. The Brumbies have a lineout close to the Lions' 22m

16:00 The kick from Giteau is a beauty from 45m out. The scores are now level 3-3

15:00 Stoltz is penalised at the breakdown and Giteau will have a shot at goal, The Brumbies had been pushed back 45m though.

13:00 Noble can not continue and is replaced by Earl Rose. The Brumbies have turned over possession and are 5m out from the Lions' try line.

12:00 A McCabe break brings the Brumbies up to the Reds' 22m but Hoiles knocks it on. There is a break in play as Lions' winger Noble is down.

11:00 PENALTY - Elsom is penalised for offside and Francis makes no mistake with his 2nd attempt at goal, Lions lead 3-0

09:00 Francis puts in a good grubber to put Fainifo under pressure, he is tackled into touch and it's a Lions lineout throw 10m from the Brumbies' try line.

06:00 Moore is penalised at the Breakdown and the Lions opt for the shot at goal 30m out infront. Francis misses what is at this level a sitter, 22m drop out Brumbies.

04:00 more troubles at scrum time is slowing this game down. The ball is finally out and the Brumbies instantly give away possession with a kick down field.

02:00 A scrappy start from both teams as there are knock ons from both sides. Scrum feed Brumbies on half way

00:00 Thank you for joining us for this Super 14 Round 4 match between the Brumbies and the Lions from Canberra. The Brumbies have kicked off and we are underway in the first half.

Overview

Brumbies

Lions

Tries

S Moore, C Lealiifano

H Franklin

Conversions

B Francis, M Giteau (3)

Penalty Goals

B Francis (2), M Giteau

Stats

29%

Possession

71%

Scrum Wins

Lineouts Wins

Rucks & Mauls

64/3

Tackles / Missed

78/14

Turnovers

Penalties Conceded