Lealiifano effort stuns Bulls
A last-gasp try from Christian Lealiifano gave Brumbies an unexpected 32-31 victory over the Bulls in a Super 14 thriller at Canberra Stadium.
Last Updated: 17/04/09 2:18pm
A last-gasp try from Christian Lealiifano gave the Brumbies an unexpected 32-31 victory over the Bulls in a Super 14 thriller at Canberra Stadium.
The hosts led 22-17 at half-time but tries from Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies in five second-half minutes threatened to give the Bulls a win that would have taken them clear at the top of the table.
But the Brumbies kept their play-off dreams intact with stand-off Lealiifano somehow weaving his way through a host of Bulls defenders to cross under the posts with three minutes left, leaving Stirling Mortlock the simplest of winning conversions.
It was an exciting first half of open, free-flowing rugby, with the Brumbies getting out to an early 10-0 lead through a Mitchell Chapman try and the boot of Mortlock.
Speed merchant
The Bulls hit back minutes later when winger Bryan Habana scored an intercept try, running 70 metres and fending off Francis Fainifo near the line to narrow the gap to three points.
Two years ago defenders wouldn't have even entertained a thought of chasing the winger, but watching Fainifo - by no means a speed merchant - hunt him down reinforced the widely held perception that Habana's afterburners have been repossessed. Only Fainifo's poor tackle technique allowed Habana to score.
The Brumbies were in again five minutes later after outside centre Tyrone Smith, kicking from deep in his own half, found the touchline just five metres out from the Bulls line. Lock Peter Kimlin then crossed for a try when the home side managed to win a line-out against the throw.
The hosts should have gone further ahead when Lealiifano broke from inside his 22m and set off on a run that culminated on him taking the wrong option in the Bulls territory.
That proved to be a costly error, after the Bulls were rewarded for consistent pressure in the 28th minute - a JP Nel cut-out pass sent Zane Kirchner over out wide with Morne Steyn adding the extras.
In a double-blow to the Brumbies, prop Guy Shepherdson was sent to the bin for dropping a knee in on a Bulls players head in an earlier ruck leading to Kirchner try.
Slow beginning
A Steyn penalty in the 33rd minute levelled the scores but with less than a minute in the half, Brumbies returning captain Stephen Hoiles picked up a loose pass, broke one attempted tackle and ran 20 metres to score out wide.
After a slow beginning to the second half, the game came to life once again with 20 minutes to go and the Brumbies leading 22-17.
The Bulls held onto the ball and scored a brilliant team try when Steyn took the ball, evaded tacklers and threw a one-handed pass to Olivier who continued his good form by stretching over to score.
With 12 minutes to go Bulls number eight Spies scored what looked to be the match-winner that put his team ahead 31-22, with the Brumbies' line-out failing and their attack impotent.
A wise Mortlock penalty chopped the Bulls' lead back to six, ensuring a thrilling finish to the match with ten minutes remaining.
And Lealiifano came up with the magic required, the young fly-half somehow making his way through a mass of defenders to score under the posts, before Mortlock converted to give his team the one-point victory.
