Brumbies humble Waratahs

Brumbies humble Waratahs

The Brumbies jumped up to fourth place on the Super 14 ladder following a 36-10 victory over New South Wales at Canberra Stadium on Sunday evening.

Brumbies humbled this force fan as well - incredible game
Wallibies Larkin 10, Giteau 12

Putting on my teflon jacket....
Gregan 9

I think Larkham and Gregan were outstanding last night, Larkham especially with a MOTM performance, but Gregan had the best match of any Australian Scrum Half this season as well.

Can't believe I'm agreeing with Growden on something :S

Larkham past it? No way

Greg Growden
Monday, April 9, 2007

THE master players invariably pick the grudge matches to show their true worth. And Wallabies five-eighth Stephen Larkham certainly rammed home that he remains one of Australian rugby's greats with a spectacular matchwinning performance for the Brumbies against the Waratahs last night.

Larkham almost defeated NSW single-handedly, turning in a near-perfect game at pivot, where he succeeded in unsettling the visitors almost immediately and then finished them off with two second-half tries. No Waratah could get anywhere near him.

If the Waratahs were to have any impact in this match, they had to dominate from the kick-off. But yet again, with Larkham always looming, the oomph in NSW's game disappeared in the opening seconds.

Nearly every Waratahs loss this year has begun with a pathetic moment - such as a dropped kick-off, stupid pass or a ridiculous, wrong decision. Last night, they elected to immediately put their heads down and run headlong into the opposition.

The only problem was in the first charge at the ACT defensive line, NSW prop Benn Robinson left the ball behind him.

The Waratahs balloon immediately deflated. It was completely flat by half-time. Usually, it has been the Waratahs' back line which has had the fumbles this season. But last night, especially in the first half, it was the forwards who had the poor hands.

When you do that against one of the better counter-attacking teams in the competition, you might as well head home early.

To their credit, the Waratahs did return from their dressing rooms for the second half - but you could have excused them, down by 19 points at the break, had they made for the team bus and snuck out of town towards the bright lights of Marulan back along the Hume Highway, because there didn't seem much point returning for 40 more minutes of exasperation.

Apart from the Waratahs thankfully lifting after the break, and showing some resolve, there were other encouraging moments for Australian rugby.

After watching last night's match, Wallabies coach John Connolly certainly knows Larkham has one more big season in him.

In the defining first half, Larkham was a class above everyone else. He controlled where the game was played. His variety of passes, from wide lobs to perfectly aimed tight, fast spears, was exceptional. His midfield kicking was astute and well directed.

He was never rushed, never really put under pressure because he, and only he, determined how this game would be played.

And when he had the ball, the Waratahs often had no clue as to what he was about to do. Larkham cut straight through them in the third minute to put Mark Gerrard away. A clever chip kick when Larkham noticed that there was no one back for the Waratahs almost led to a second Gerrard try in the 16th minute, only for the video referee to rule against it.

A penetrating Larkham run in the 25th minute was instrumental in Jone Tawake eventually scoring, while he also had an early involvement in Gerrard scoring again just before the break.

And to top it off, Larkham showed he can still hustle and bustle, pushing aside several pathetic NSW tackles to score in the 60th minute and again in the 72nd. The Brumbies five-eighth's presence in this match was overpowering.

And there are still some out there who think Larkham at 32 is past it.

Absolute balderdash.

Larkham was deadset amazing. Teams should be scared come the world cup if he can keep that up.

FORCE TO HUMBLE BRUMBIES