The ACT Brumbies started 2023 with a winning bang in a highly-appealing contest against the NSW Waratahs which drew 25,076 fans.
The extra promotion and build-up to the season opener at the new Allianz Stadium was repaid by a crowd nearly twice the size of 2022’s biggest in Sydney and the first time they have cracked over 20,000 since 2016.
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It was just what Super Rugby Pacific needed in Australia and plenty of individual players stood up in the 31-25 victory for last year’s semi-finalists.
1 EDDIE’S EYEBALLS
A TV camera flashing to Eddie Jones scrutinising the action will be a staple this year with the new Wallabies coach piecing together names for his first squad.
Jones has always rated big derbies for high-stakes as double-points matches when it comes to selection.
So who would Eddie have had eyes for after this Round One clash?
Halfback Ryan Lonergan, lock Nick Frost, hard-carrying Rob Valetini, sharp-moving tackle-buster Tom Wright, tip-toeing winger Corey Toole and centre Len Ikitau were among those who had standout periods for the Brumbies.
For the Waratahs, the wonderful skill of 18-year-old young gun Max Jorgensen, centre Lalakai Foketi and the bloke in the red headgear would certainly have pleased Jones.
No.8 Langi Gleeson’s red top was prominent for his 36 minutes off the bench and never more so than with his offload in the lead-up to the Jake Gordon try.
There were lots of elements for Jones to like. As he says, the talent is here in Australia. Moulding them into a better national team is his job.
2 WING WONDERS
It’s so heartening to see fresh speed and skill on the wing. It wasn’t just NSW teenager Max Jorgensen shrugging off two Wallabies on the way to his first try on debut in Super Rugby Pacific.
It was watching new Brumby Corey Toole transferring his package as an Aussie sevens star so easily to the 15-a-side game.
Toole’s pace down the left touchline finished one try and even better was another scoot for what was a disallowed try when the TMO found a boot had brushed the touchline.
Toole also secured a high kick under pressure and slipped away a pass almost in the same motion.
The big plus to the first of Jorgensen’s two tries was being in position to score it. He wasn’t shy and sitting out on the sideline, he’d zipped infield to be in position to accept a pop ball from prop Angus Bell.
3 THE STEVE LARKHAM FACTOR
The sweet little play that put Toole over for his try had all the hallmarks of coach Larkham and his backline leaders nutting out the details at pre-season training.
Halfback Nic White snapped the pass left to Noah Lolesio. Andy Muirhead inserted himself into the line as support by darting in from the blind wing. Fullback Tom Wright ran as a decoy and the Muirhead pass put Toole over.
Beating the NSW Waratahs never grows old for a lifetime Brumby like Larkham.
4 SOS FOR HOOKER
What an effort from emergency hooker John Ulugia. With the late injury withdrawal of Lachie Lonergan and the head knock to Connal McInerney, the 37-year-old Ulugia forgot about retirement and ran out.
He put in a huge shift and got through until the 78th minute. He’ll be able to teach some youngsters about good lineout throwing now.
5 WARATAHS NEED TO SHARPEN
Full credit to the Waratahs for twice closing the gap with tries in the second half.
There’ll be harder conversations at training over the next week over poor ball control and wasted chances.
Backrower Charlie Gamble knocking on twice in the first half, some missed tackles out wide and other sloppiness will need to be corrected.
Having centre Izaia Perese and flanker Michael Hooper play big minutes after no time at all in the trials got both into the flow of the season
