The ACT Brumbies may have come second to the Hurricanes but they proved again that no Kiwi side will take them lightly in the play-offs.
This was a high-quality game in Super Rugby Pacific in Wellington and the 14-all scoreline just before half-time and the 32-27 result reflected it.
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The Brumbies have a game plan made for any tussle with their strong set piece, a sharp sense of counter-attack, a contestable kicking game and point-of-difference players.
What did we learn from the first game of Culture Round?
1 TOOLE BOX
Eddie Jones picked a bunch of traits in his first Wallabies training camp but certainly not the fastest feet in Australian rugby.
Winger Corey Toole made a mighty impression in Wellington starting with the way he set up the Brumbies’ brilliant first try on counter-attack.
It was a play straight out of every Kiwi handbook. The Hurricanes were on full attack when they turned over the ball. The Brumbies didn’t hack the ball into touch but instinctively spun the ball to the left.
Winger Toole found himself confronted by only forwards. He arced around them with blistering pace and into the clear. He put a perfect pass inside to backrower Charlie Cale, who gave the final pass for lock Nick Frost’s try.
The Toole finish for the final try of the night was classy too. An abrupt stutter step shed the cover defence of Ardie Savea.
In all, Toole made 10 runs for 114m to be the Brumbies standout back alongside ever-dangerous fullback Tom Wright (12 runs for 98m). They beat 11 defenders between them.
2 SPEED THRILLS FROM NICK FROST
The pace of Wallabies lock Nick Frost is renowned. He outdid himself when he blocked a grubber kick ahead.
Some locks might have managed to snaffle the bobbling ball and not had the acceleration to even start a counter run before being swallowed up by the defence.
Frost took off and galloped 75m to score his second try with the Hurricanes making no inroads in pursuit.
Hardworking lock partner Cadeyrn Neville also had a strong game with 15 tackles and five lineout takes to show he’ll be an essential part of the 23-man Wallabies match day squad.
3 LINEOUT DRIVE EXPERTS WITH EXTRAS
The Brumbies have definitely expanded their game in 2023.
There was the well-drilled lineout drive try for flanker Rory Scott but so much more. Wright and Toole were always prepared to have a crack in attack and the Brumbies will always back themselves on a passing rush.
It must be said the Brumbies do miss the extra edge that outside centre Len Ikitau gives them. The sooner he returns from his concussion rest the better.
4 HOOKER HEADACHES
Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua has now torn apart the Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies this year.
The strongly-framed All Blacks No.2 does his work where it counts with bullocking charges up the middle with a keen sense for latching onto a pass or a pick-and-go that turns into a 20m gain.
He ran eight times for 96m against the Brumbies. He fended off Nick Frost to set up the Ardie Savea try in a clever front-of-the-lineout play.
5 O’DONNELL DAMAGE
It looks like bad news for Brumbies finisher Ben O’Donnell.
When his left knee collapsed under him when he took off for a run at the 78-minute mark, the pain on his face was instant.
It looked like an ACL tear and season over which would be cruel news for the former Aussie Sevens player who has contributed strongly to the Brumbies.
