Les Kiss’ Queensland side were the competition’s hottest thing in the opening month of the competition, but the ACT Brumbies once again showed they remain Australia’s premier side by sealing a memorable 20-19 win over the Reds in Brisbane on Easter Saturday.
In the match of the round, fly-half Noah Lolesio and fullback Tom Wright were the difference for the Brumbies.
The playmaker, who last wore the Wallabies jersey in 2022, banged over two tricky penalties late in each half, including in the 70th minute, to give the Brumbies the lead. It proved to be a match-winning one.
Before that Wright, who similarly was looked over for last year’s World Cup campaign by Eddie Jones, scored a try in both halves on the fringes to keep the Brumbies in the contest. His teammate Lolesio did the rest.
Noah Lolesio celebrates the Brumbies’ victory over the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on March 30, 2024, in Brisbane. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Kiss will look back and rue a pivotal moment in the 67th minute when replacement playmaker Lawson Creighton, who was a controversial inclusion ahead of Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, kicked too long to allow the Brumbies a prime opportunity to hit back after Josh Nasser got the Reds back in the match.
The Brumbies didn’t waste the moment, as they earned a penalty and Lolesio slotted his fourth kick of the night.
After replacement openside flanker Luke Reimer went to work at the breakdown to deny the Reds some much-needed quick ball, the Reds had one last chance to land a final blow after Ben O’Keeffe penalised the Brumbies at the scrum near the home side’s 10-metre line.
The Reds did their first job by securing the lineout, but with Harry Wilson sitting on the sideliens, the home side failed to get any momentum and quick ruck speed as the Brumbies’ defence held firm.
It was then left to Rob Valetini, who was excellent in the tight, and skipper Ryan Lonergan to guide the Brumbies home.
Former Wallaby turned pundit Justin Harrison described the match as one with a “test match intensity” about it.
“It was very defensive based, very set-piece dominated, it was a real grind,” Lonergan said.
“We spoke at half-time about our discipline and defence will win that game, and we ground that out in the end.”
The Brumbies managed to hold on against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on March 30, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Reds co-captain Liam Wright lamented his side’s little mistakes in the second half, which allowed the Brumbies the chance to get back into the match.
“It was pretty brutal,” Wright said.
“I thought the defence from both sides was physical, really up for it, you could tell that both teams really wanted it.
“It probably came down to a couple of pressure-release moments that cost us in the end, and the Brumbies capitalised really well.”