Brumby Runner Matt Toomua (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Brumbies won through to their first Super Rugby final in almost a decade when Tevita Kuridrani scored a last-ditch try to sink the Bulls 26-23 in Pretoria, South Africa.
It’s the first time the Bulls have lost a Super Rugby finals match at Loftus.
The Brumbies will meet defending champions the Chiefs in the final after the latter narrowly defeated the Crusaders in the first semi-final.
The Bulls turned down three penalty goals to kick for the corner while one point up in the final 13 minutes as the Brumbies’ staunch defence held them out.
It took a message from Bulls coach Frans Ludeke to take the three points when they were offered for a fourth time in the 76th minute.
However the Brumbies obtained good territory off the resulting kick-off and flyhalf Matt Toomua busted the line to send Kuridrani over in the 79th minute, TMO Shaun Veldsman ruling there was no forward pass in the lead-up.
Bulls captain Dewald Potgieter defended his decision to turn down the three penalty goal attempts.
“We tried to spend most of the time in their territory and it was working for us right up until the end when we took that penalty and were back in our own half,” he said.
“We were struggling all night with our exits.
“Probably not always the popular choice (to turn down three points) but you’ve got to back what you want to do.”
Brumbies captain Ben Mowen praised his men for their brilliant defence when the Bulls were dominating both territory and possession late in the game.
“Momentum comes and goes in games and you’ve just got to make sure that when it is against you it’s not costing you on the scoreboard,” he said.
Brumbies flanker George Smith was magnificent with another man-of-the-match performance. – stuff
Related articles
